EMG ..... How bad is it?

[Jasper]

I will be having an EMG in April. It will be on my legs and feet.

I know it is quite painful (friends who have had EMGs have told me). I would rather know in advance how bad the pain is. I just want to get an idea of how bad it is so I can be somewhat prepared, at least mentally.

Also, how long does it last. I suppose this can vary depending on the doctor and the areas being tested.

I have a good neurologist and he did tell me it was quite painful. I told him I want to have it done anyway so I can find out what is going on with my feet. I forgot to ask him how long it takes.

Thanks in advance.

[Velcro]

I had one on my arm a couple of years ago.  My friends too told me how horrific it was.  I really didn't think it was that awful.  There were a couple of spots that when they jiggled the little needle, stung a little, but nothing horrible and when they caused the muscle to jump, wasn't something I would do for fun.  My arms were sore a little bit that evening and the next day, but pain like a bruise, nothing horrible there either.

[Velcro]

Oh, from start to finish, mine was maybe 30 minutes.

[finallyadx]

Mine was about 45 minutes - hurt and stung some but I have to say I have had more pain with other procedures I have had.  Will it be uncomfortable?  Yes.  Will it hurt some?  Yes.  But just try to remain calm and focus on something peaceful.  The time will go by quickly hopefully for you and it is something that you need to do.

I too heard horror stories - the horror stories I heard were worse than my actual own personal experience - I hope you encounter the same.

Keep us posted.
Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way.

[litliwlowa]

Jasper

I've had a number of EMGs over the years and only couple of times the leg ones. Yes they are painful, however in perspective with each "jolt" it's a short lasting OUCH. I notice in mine anyway the degree of OUCH seems to depend on which muscle is being tested.

Sort of like a bee sting in comparison to a mosquito bite is best I can come up with to describe it. Hurts like the dickens when "stung" but that part passes quickly.

Are they also doing NCS? (Nerve conduction studies) Or just EMGs?

Amanda

[quietdynamics]

I had an EMG on my arm and hand.
Pain tolerance is different for each person.
I did not find it to be very painful.

I tuned out and thought of something nice, a nice place while the test was going on.

Some areas more responsive than others. My Neuro did the test and some areas he had to jiggle more than others. Then it was over. I had no residual pain or soreness.

Might consider sending over list of any meds and supplements you are taking .. see if they interfere with test results.

[Jasper]

Thanks so much for all of the replies so far.

I think just knowing SOMETHING about it, for me anyway, is better than going in blind. I have had plenty of pain and discomfort in my life so I can handle that part of it. I just like to be a little prepared. And if it is not as bad as I think it is going to be, that is great too, LOL.

Amanda, I think for now it is just EMGs. He is going in stages. He told me he wants to see what the EMG shows first. Then he will go from there. I did ask him about small fiber biopsy and he wants to do the EMG first to see what it shows and then he will order more tests based on if the EMG shows anything or not. If it is normal, then he will order further tests based on that. If it is abnormal, same thing.

He did say that I may have an abnormal small fiber biopsy for a number of reasons due to other medical problems in addition to Sjogren's. Plus, he also knows that I could have feet pain and tingling from various causes because I have a few medical conditions that could cause the symptoms I had. So he is checking all of the basic stuff first.

He is at the University of Minnesota and is the neurologist there who specializes in neurological physiology and neurological problems related to Autoimmune Diseases. He has an excellent reputation and is well respected for his knowledge and competency. Therefore I do trust him. Plus he is very nice and has good communication skills.

quietdynamics ..... he has a list of everything I am taking. He is okay with all of my many supplements and my few prescription meds. That is a very good point, though. Thanks.

I will keep everyone posted.

[Carolina]

I've had two sets of EMGs, no three actually.  Two on my legs, and one on my arms.

I don't find that it is the pain so much as the fact that your muscles and limbs 'jump' with the stimulus.

That is surprising and somewhat unpleasant.  It is a bit like the feeling when you hit your funny bone in your elbow...which does hurt a bit, but is mostly just unpleasant.

It's hard to describe.  In my legs, since there is very little activity, I don't get a LOT of reaction.  In my arms, which don't have much nerve damage, next to none, things are more dramatic, because the nerves are working!  Nerves that don't work, don't conduct much energy and you don't feel a lot or jump around as much.

That's my theory anyway.

I know you add PN to your diagnoses, and I'm curious about that since I would say my PN is the most disabling condition in my life.  My Osteoarthritis is the source of the most pain.  My coronary Artery disease has no symptoms, but is most likely to be my 'exit ticket' one day.    Flares from my Sjogren's are the most surprising and unpredictable of my conditions.

My mantra:  Practice Patience, Persistence, and Acceptance.

My philosophy: It's always something, and then, it's something else.

You'll be fine with the EMG.  I hope the doctor is there and explains it all to you right away.  That is what I had the last time, and it was helpful.  Before that I just had technicians and had to wait forever to find out what the results were.

are you having a small fiber biopsy too?

I haven't had that, and my Neurologist won't do a major nerve biopsy because of the damage it will do.

My Neurologist doesn't think my Sjogren's caused my PN because he refuses to accept that I have Sjogren's without the positive serum tests.  My Immunologist is the one that calls it Sjogren's.  I love all the dueling specialists who put their diagnoses on my Duke Chart for everyone to see.  The Neurologist DID find a rare copper deficiency and thinks that may be the cause.  I'm taking copper now, but taking the copper if you're deficient  doesn't reverse the damage already done.  And my PN has NOT progressed in 4 years (it was profound when discovered, but hasn't spread, so I don't see how my copper deficiency PN stopped with my legs).  My Rheumatologist thinks maybe I developed PN from prolonged use of an antibiotic that is known to cause PN.  But no one knows for sure.  And what I do know is that it is unlikely to get any better, and it seems not to be getting worse.

Do keep us posted Jasper.  And ask more questions, please.   This is a topic dear to my heart.

Hugs,  Elaine

[Jasper]

Amanda ..... I just read my Neurologists note from my visit yesterday and he is going to do nerve conduction studies at the same time as the EMG.

Elaine ..... thanks so much for your response and input.

In the note my Neurologist does say I have Peripheral Neuropathy but he is not sure of the cause yet. I have a few possible causes: Hepatitis C, Sjogren's, possible Cryoglobulinemia (which is unclear if I had or not since I could not get my incompetent team to test me or take notice ..... I fired them in 2012).

He is not going to do a small fiber biopsy yet. He wants to see what these tests show first.

My feet pain has improved since last summer and fall. It is always there, sort of feels like when you get frostbite and your frozen body part starts to thaw out. And my toes and feet are very sensitive to the touch. The pain can keep me awake at night sometimes and it is worse at night for some reason, maybe because I am not being distracted by other things. But I can deal with it for now. My function and ability is intact.

I don't know what bothers me the most. It depends on what I am doing or what I want to do. At night it is the PN. If I want to climb stairs it is the knee OA. If I want to walk a lot or sight see, it is the OA and the thigh fatigue. But I am not really complaining because in the big picture, I am pretty healthy and I do not have nearly the discomfort, pain, or problems that so many on the forum have. So I am doing pretty well, I think, and I am trying to stay that way.

I feel for all of the many forum members who have so much pain and discomfort. Hugs to everyone.

[Carolina]

Thanks again, Jasper.

I think we all just cope, once we get to the point where 'stuff starts adding up'.

My orthopedist told me three years ago "I'll be doing a knee replacement on that knee next time I see you."

My PN is profound.  I can't walk or balance well at all.  The problem is that the nerves in my legs 'scramble' the messages from my brain and to my brain.

So I cannot recover from slipping, or loss of balance, and I can't lift my foot properly to step over something.
My feet both 'drop' which means my toe drags on the floor instead of clear it.  The bottom line is enormous effort to walk half a block, and that done very very slowly.

My favorite thing is to do the grocery shopping because the cart serves as my walker.  But I tire easily and have to sit down often.

We do just cope, however.  And I think even those more profoundly affected than we are do the same.  My sister spent the last 14 years of her life as a quadriplegic from a car accident.  In that time she rented her own house, had an attendant, a motorized wheel chair, a van equipped for her, went back to college and earned her BS in Accounting!   She was going to an exercise class, and could drive her wheel chair to the shopping area to shop!  She had some control of her right hand, but that was all.  C6-C7 quad.  Mid level.

So I saw how one could move forward in life.  It's all a journey!

Hugs,  Elaine

[Chris]

For me, it wasn't bad at all!
Good luck'

[Jasper]

Thanks, Cris.

After reading all of the responses I am feeling a lot more relaxed about having the tests done. I would have had them anyway, but it helps to know what others have experienced. Thanks again to everyone.

[litliwlowa]

Amanda ..... I just read my Neurologists note from my visit yesterday and he is going to do nerve conduction studies at the same time as the EMG.

Okay,  that would make sense and typically that is what my respective neuro's have done.

Not to worry, very similar to EMGs except it's the specific nerve getting a jolt. More like a hornet sting in comparison to a bee sting. Depends on the nerve and how "sensitive" your nerve is.

Best thing is to relax best you can on these tests, and just know that what you feel is momentary and will pass quickly. On the EMGs, as those are testing the electrical response of the respective muscles, you do want to relax best you can for those. As what happens when we tense up? Our muscles tighten up. What happens when our muscles tighten up? We hurt more!!

Oh, and I am glad someone posted on checking your meds in advance of the test. My orthopedist did my last EMGs and NCS - bad move on my part as some of my nerve muscle issues are specifically related to inflammation and I was not advised to discontinue anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen, the like) which I have been on for years daily to control/contain inflammation.

Good that you checked with your neuro on your meds.

[Jasper]

Thanks, Amanda.

I was thinking I might just stop all of the supplements about 2 weeks before the test. He did not say I needed to stop any of them. However, I was reading that anything that causes bleeding should be stopped. I know some of my supplements state to stop taking them before surgical procedures. They don't cause bleeding  (such as ulcers) like NSAIDs do, but they can prolong clotting or bleeding time. Therefore I was thinking it would be good to stop everything to be sure that I do not prolong bleeding time (since I am going to have needles stuck in me) and also just in case any of them might affect the test. I would rather have a test that I know for sure is not affected by anything. I would also prefer not to get a bunch of unnecessary bruises. Of course, I will continue taking the prescribed meds such as Plaquenil and Vitamin D as well as Calcium.

[Carolina]

Jasper, there is no bleeding.  The needles are like acupuncture needles.

Hugs,  Elaine