timesup

I disagree with the therapist . . . you do not need a lot of sciatic impingement to get muscle atrophy. Everything points in the direction of a pinched and/or damaged nerve and nothing seems to point towards MND, so please concentrate on that and relax.

My mom and dad live in tenn so it sucks because I am here in mn. So I just have to go and listen to her on the phone or what my dad tells me and what she writes in emails. I will be seeing her in feb so I am excited about that trip. I'm so sorry to hear of your lose. It sucks to lose someone like your parent which you think they live forever. I'm glad I have this support group. Thanks.

Thank you. I'm sorry about your father. How long did he live with it. It sucks and I can't still believe it. The hardest part is I live in mn and my parents live in tn. I want them to move up here so I can help the.

The EMG can only detect lower motor neuron dysfunction (as Zaphoon told you), because it's the lower motor neurons that directly innervate the skeletal muscles and therefore directly affect them. The upper motor neurons innervate the lower motor neurons, so they indirectly affect the skeletal muscles. Lower motor neuron dysfunction will cause things such as weakness, muscle atrophy, muscle twitching, diminished reflexes . . . although many other things can cause those same symptoms. Upper motor neuron dysfunction will cause brisk reflexes, muscle spasticity and cramping, primitive reflexes (e.g. Babinski and Hoffman) . . . although once again . . . many other conditions can cause those same symptoms. Now please go relax.

I had 2 back-to-back clean emg's over 2 years ago. The 1st neuro suspected PLS, the 2nd thought it was too early to tell. PLS is a disease of upper motor neurons only. ALS is a disease that involves both upper and lower motor neurons. Pins & needles would be more indicative of sensory not motor neurons. At any rate, a 3rd neurologist gave me a "presumptive" diagnosis of PLS, seconding the opinion of the 1st.

The emg is designed to detect lower motor neuron trouble and will not pick up anything related to upper motor neurons. Hope this helps.

It is more than likely an issue with your sciatic nerve that is happening distal to your spine, since nothing was found on the MRI that indicates degenerative disc disease. Have you been prescribed any type of physical therapy for your leg issues? It could simply be a matter of posture . . . and your shoulder issues could actually be contributing to your leg issues by affecting your posture. Discuss it fully with your docs and I'm sure they will listen to your concerns.

Oh that's just fantastic news. Good on you. Everything seems on the "up and up". You will soon have all the answers. I am 100% sure the leg stuff won't be sinister. Just a real nuisance.
I am not going to give you any articles. Not being mean, but you are just doing sooo well, why read stuff that you don't need to. You don't have umn ALS, so why bother reading it.Aly

I am so glad. But did your partner say 'yes'. Hope surgery fixes the arm issues. It's great to get some answers. My family have really weird feet and I have atrophy etc in both feet. I don't think it's connected to the ?pls dx cause it seems familial. It does not bother me and I don't focus on it. Go attack that wonderful life of yours. Live it proudly and most of all have heaps of fun.

I'm NW of Toronto Canada. Bit of a long x-country. There's a 2600 ft grass strip up the road I used to fly a 172 out of. Was involved with Air Cadets then. In a power chair so getting into most A/C would be a problem. If getting the shoulder done solved half the problem it might be worth it.

I was a private pilot. Single engine, land and sea. ALS screwed that as well as a few other things.

Its difficult to answer all your questions, but It sounds absolutely nothing at all like ALS. Yes a collapsed arch can cause leg pain etc. Anxiety as you know can cause Fasic"s but you know that already. A clean EMG means you do not have ALS.
I do not have the medical knowledge to put all the symptoms together. There is just too much going on. Your Drs think you have a shoulder problem so believe them. Brachial Plexitis can cause Twitrches, pain , weakness etc. I really think you need to drop it all and trust your medics. You could well have more than one issue. Why dont you just do one area at a time. The boils, well that doesnt make sense either, so is probably that you have a staph infection on your skin.
Aly

I will take a look when I get home from work, just leaving. Hope you aaaaaaaaaaaare getting married .
Aly

You would see a neuro to address the issues that are concerning you and he/she would have to do another EMG to alleviate your fears. By the way: tingling sensations when you move your foot point away from ALS, as do many of your other symptoms.

An EMG will detect problems well in advance of someone realizing they have symptoms from those problems. That is the bottom line. I must also repeat myself that you have been fully evaluated and have gotten your diagnosis. Please believe your neuro and deal with the real condition you have and not the one you are trying to convince yourself you have.

EMG's detect problems when they happen. Your statistic about EMG's detecting problems 2 years in advance is a false one. If the problem isn't there, it can't be detected. If you are referring to an EMG detecting problems 2 years in advance of symptoms: that would depend on the symptoms and how aware someone is of their symptoms. Bottom line: if you have had an EMG and your neuro said it is a brachial plexus problem, then that is what the problem is . . . a brachial plexus issue . . . and not ALS.