Worried about results

[mholchendler]

I am a (scared) 35 yr okd male. Not much medical history. My symptoms started in December as a constant fasiculations in my dorsum of my left hand which when became body wide random fasiculations. Then i started to get cramps and pains in my right hand thumb muscle and heaviness in my shoulder which mostly resolved. And now i have paresthesias in my 4/5 digits left hand with coldness as well as cramps and fatigue in the left arm extensor muscles. My reports all point to cervical radiculopathy but in just scared about the fibs/ inserional activity/ psws/ fasics as seen on emg and MUAPS. And i dont see how cervical radiculopathy on the left can explain body wide fasiculations and also whatever they saw on my emg/ncs on my right and why i previously had symptoms in my right thumb and shoulder.

If anyone can offer reassurance who may have had these findings on emg and it was more benign cause in nature and /or can explain some of this stuff on emg/ncs since i am not familiar with the nomenclature

I have attached results from an emg in December (last pic/ one page) and mri in January and emg yesterday

 

[ShiftKicker]

Hi there- if you could re-upload with any personal info such as name, address, medical#, DOB, etc, removed, that would be dandy.

Thank kindly

 

[mholchendler]

Hi reposting studies below

 

[lgelb]

Two things at once, very common.
L neck spine damage (C-spine) affecting your upper arm/shoulder
and L sensory ulnar neuropathy (arm into fingers)

The active denervation is confined to the L side and in one region, not at all ALS. What the R thumb was about, I can't say, but paying attention to repetitive motions like keyboarding, texting, gaming, working will be worthwhile.

Ask about PT to reduce symptoms/get an exercise regimen going to reduce further damage, but there is no reason here to worry about ALS.

 

[mholchendler]

what about the abnormalities on the motor/sensory/fwave test on my RIGHT side ? what does that mean?

and how common are fasics/fibs/psws/insertional activity in cervical radiculopathy?

 

[lgelb]

You said the R side issues mostly resolved, but there could be many reasons for nerve conduction to be abnormal, even a healing process, and that is a discussion for the neuro who examined you.

Yes, acute denervation is common in cervical radiculopathy. That is why you want to get to PT and better understand the what now aspects of the damage. We're seeing more and more evidence that the right therapy early on can avoid the need for more invasive procedures down the road.

 

[mholchendler]

was there any evidence of anything chronic or was this just acute findings?

 

[Nikki J]

Yes but localized and equally consistent with radiculopathy. I am sorry you do not trust your doctor and seem reluctant to pursue treatment for your diagnosis

 

[mholchendler]

I guess its confusing to me because a lot of it didnt show up on my first EMG that was done a little over 2 months earlier. Do chronic changes happen so quickly from radiculopathy? Also i have no neck pain or injuries to neck.

What exactly do these chronic changes mean?
And why did all of a sudden a little over 2 months later i have fibs/psws/fasics/muaps

I dont so much understand the nomenclature or their significance
Can someone explain

 

[mholchendler]

i was searching on this forum under radiculopathy and some of the other reassurances here was because they either had only acute changes or chronic changes on emg and apparently i have both? i am feeling really concerned if anyone has any insight

 

[Nikki J]

All of this is completely normal for radiculopathy. The chronic changes come later as the body attempts repair. The more acute findings in the second are due to the different time it takes the changes to show up in different muscles. What differentiates it from ALS is it is limited to one area. This paper explains it Acute Versus Chronic Radiculopathy - Dr Halvorson- Board Certified EMG & NCV

You are more than free to disbelieve us but we can not explain more. Please refer any more questions to the doctor. Closing thread. Do not start another