rtr909
New member
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2022
- Messages
- 6
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
Hi all. I really waited to post here as a last resort out of respect to the community, but I’m struggling. I hope some of you may have insight into this.
I’ll start by saying a couple weeks ago I noticed my fingers on my left hand felt a little weak, grip has not been as strong, typing slower and sloppier. Typing and grip still an issue, noticed more difficult to hold my PS5 controller yesterday, harder to hold remote control etc.
So I went to neurologist who did exam, said exam was normal, ordered EMG probably to alleviate any concerns I had that it could be something serious. (I understand that exam would be normal, my grip is not terrible and it’s my outer, weaker fingers).
Had the NCS/EMG yesterday in left leg and arm, doctor who did it said results were “completely normal” in both areas. She only spent about 10-15 minutes of EMG portion on the leg and probably another 10 minutes of EMG portion on arm, I feel like it was quick because she did not expect anything. NCS was normal. I do not have actual results to share at this time.
Anyways, she only stuck needles in probably 4/5 points in my arm during actual EMG to test strength (forearm, upper arm, one in thumb muscle).
My concern is that I don’t think she tested the muscles my forearm that control my pinky/ring finger - this is the specific area that is feeling weak. I feel like she was focused on thumb and forefinger part of grip/hand/forearm.
So my question is, would the EMG show abnormalities in other parts of the arm/hand if there were abnormalities with pinky/ring finger that have not been felt elsewhere?
I understand I cannot get medical advice here, just looking for some opinions or input from people with me who may be more familiar with the EMG.
Thanks in advance
*edit: I should mention I saw a physical therapist who said that left hand/arm had slight weakness, though he would attribute it more to it being non-dominant arm. Hoffman sign negative, not sure if it matters which fingers are affected (mine are outer fingers not thumb/forefinger).
I should add, I understand I’m not giving a lot of symptoms that would lead to diagnosis. The weakness isn’t clinical, but it’s new, and I’m compensating for weakness w/pinky by using thumb and forefinger, so I can feel some pain in thumb due to compensation. My pinky can go side to side okay, just not up and down as easily, which is why I’m mentioning forearm muscles not hand muscles.
I want to clarify. I have read the “read before posting” a number of times over the last several weeks. Hence waiting so long to post.
I understand “clean EMG = no ALS”. My question is, what does clean EMG on inside parts of forearm/hand and other parts of arm mean for outside parts of forearm if they were not included on EMG? Anything?
I’ll start by saying a couple weeks ago I noticed my fingers on my left hand felt a little weak, grip has not been as strong, typing slower and sloppier. Typing and grip still an issue, noticed more difficult to hold my PS5 controller yesterday, harder to hold remote control etc.
So I went to neurologist who did exam, said exam was normal, ordered EMG probably to alleviate any concerns I had that it could be something serious. (I understand that exam would be normal, my grip is not terrible and it’s my outer, weaker fingers).
Had the NCS/EMG yesterday in left leg and arm, doctor who did it said results were “completely normal” in both areas. She only spent about 10-15 minutes of EMG portion on the leg and probably another 10 minutes of EMG portion on arm, I feel like it was quick because she did not expect anything. NCS was normal. I do not have actual results to share at this time.
Anyways, she only stuck needles in probably 4/5 points in my arm during actual EMG to test strength (forearm, upper arm, one in thumb muscle).
My concern is that I don’t think she tested the muscles my forearm that control my pinky/ring finger - this is the specific area that is feeling weak. I feel like she was focused on thumb and forefinger part of grip/hand/forearm.
So my question is, would the EMG show abnormalities in other parts of the arm/hand if there were abnormalities with pinky/ring finger that have not been felt elsewhere?
I understand I cannot get medical advice here, just looking for some opinions or input from people with me who may be more familiar with the EMG.
Thanks in advance
*edit: I should mention I saw a physical therapist who said that left hand/arm had slight weakness, though he would attribute it more to it being non-dominant arm. Hoffman sign negative, not sure if it matters which fingers are affected (mine are outer fingers not thumb/forefinger).
I should add, I understand I’m not giving a lot of symptoms that would lead to diagnosis. The weakness isn’t clinical, but it’s new, and I’m compensating for weakness w/pinky by using thumb and forefinger, so I can feel some pain in thumb due to compensation. My pinky can go side to side okay, just not up and down as easily, which is why I’m mentioning forearm muscles not hand muscles.
I want to clarify. I have read the “read before posting” a number of times over the last several weeks. Hence waiting so long to post.
I understand “clean EMG = no ALS”. My question is, what does clean EMG on inside parts of forearm/hand and other parts of arm mean for outside parts of forearm if they were not included on EMG? Anything?