Neuro Appt Today - finally had an EMG!

[Yuliasir]

good news good news!

[Red Raider]

That's great news. At least you are getting answers for your Problems. Be thankful that should be enough for therapy for you by saying you have nothing terrible. My right hand kept getting weak kinda like yours Xina and I went to yhr orthopedic doc he gave me some shots in my elbow and wrist and believe it or not my hand feels better. He tested me for carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome one is in the wrist and the other is in the elbow so only time will tell.

Houston

[Xina535]

Hi all,

I am back in a hole of anxiousness. Been trying to do everything to fight it. Now I am questioning everything and am back here to get this out.

I absolutely cannot stop thinking that something is seriously wrong with my hand. Is a clean nerve conduction test really anything to go by? I thought in MND, nerve conduction tests are useless (will be clean) and the EMG is the mother test.

I didn't have an EMG on my right side or in my right hand, only in the left, so of course I keep questioning if that could really rule out MND in my entire body.

I have a constant dull/achy pain and very frequent vibration/twitching/buzzing going on in my hand. It's never at rest, and keeps me from sleeping through the night. Nothing has been helping, what do I do? Pain pills don't help, the heat feels nice and ice helps for that moment but it all comes back. Sigh.

I googled when I shouldn't have , for "hand discomfort" and a symptom search page pulled up MND as a possibility. I searched then "hand pain" or "Thenar pain" and MND also came up.....so, how? I thought MND is more commonly without sensory/pain as symptoms.

I'm thinking of going back to my orthopedic, maybe a shot will help or he'll make an X-ray?

[jebmd]

Hi Xina,
I have also "overanalyzed" the "atrophy" in my left hand-the thenar area specifically. The neurologist looked at my hands carefully and did not believe that there was any. Interestingly, my left hand is smaller than my right because I am R hand dominant and my right hand is more muscular. Also, my left arm was casted for several weeks when I was about 9 years old, and ever since then, I could see the difference in size. If the specialist says that there is nothing to worry about and the nerve conduction study is normal then that is great news. My NCS was abnormal on the RIGHT-the side without symptoms and was diagnosed as carpel tunnel, to be managed conservatively-no surgery. When I had the second EMG, the carpel tunnel was not detected-and I had not done anything different. So I think you can calm down about this being anything sinister.
J

[German2]

Dear Xina,

I know exactly how you feel. We both are exactly the same time "in" twiching and are probably counting the weeks to mark one year (3 weeks left). But symptoms did not vanish, they changed, get weird..My left thenar is also smaller than my right. I am convinced both declined. Neuro did say "its nothing". Since yesterday I experienced a kind of tremor in my limbs. I did not feel my feet, though they took me propper for a walk. My muscles hurt all the night terribly...Nothing went better..Just the twiching stayed stable in my left foot and did not proceed. Just very random twitches in the back or so. I had only two EMGs in the very beginning. No further ones, just clinicals. I had a lot of nerve conduction speed tests. Neuros told me, if there would be anything serious, they would realize it. So that is what I am told. Even in the als ambulance in Bochum they just did a clinical and nerve conduction speed test in both of my legs. So how can they be sure, if that test doesn't work? But on the other hand, I feel like you. Dicouraged, anxiety is back again...And I am sure it will stay longer than twelve month..But we can just try to rely on our doctors and what they tell us. Two weeks ago I visited a neuro on a private basis for I know he has als experience (my one is an ms expert). In order to get e second opinion. He said "everything is ok. No ***". But this doesn't really help any longer, having such strange symptoms all the time. So we have to walk down that road for a further while. But are not alone with that. REally not..

[Xina535]

If the specialist says that there is nothing to worry about and the nerve conduction study is normal then that is great news. .....So I think you can calm down about this being anything sinister.
J

Thank you J! I am trying alllllll I can in my power to no over-analyze and think that my hand isn't deterioating (the muscles, due to something sinister). It's such a battle. Most of the time I am good, since I have learned, have some methods to stay distracted, have lots of visits behind me, etc. If this was happening a year ago, I would be in the nut-house.

[Xina535]

But symptoms did not vanish, they changed, get weird..
But on the other hand, I feel like you. Dicouraged, anxiety is back again...And I am sure it will stay longer than twelve month..But we can just try to rely on our doctors and what they tell us. Two weeks ago I visited a neuro on a private basis for I know he has als experience (my one is an ms expert). In order to get e second opinion. He said "everything is ok. No ***". But this doesn't really help any longer, having such strange symptoms all the time. So we have to walk down that road for a further while. But are not alone with that. REally not..

I appreciate so much that I am not alone, although, I would not wish these symptoms or anxiety on anyone, or any other serious diseases for that matter. I helps a lot knowing that people understand how I feel.

We can just baby step it. Go by the opinions of the experts and baby step to see how else our bodies will change....

I hope everyone is feeling better, in some how, in some way!

[German2]

Thank you J! I am trying alllllll I can in my power to no over-analyze and think that my hand isn't deterioating (the muscles, due to something sinister). It's such a battle. Most of the time I am good, since I have learned, have some methods to stay distracted, have lots of visits behind me, etc. If this was happening a year ago, I would be in the nut-house.
[/quote]

Dear Xina, that was, what happening to me one month after twiching. I got weakness and atrophy in my left hand..And I went nuts. But it was reversible with therapy...So I had it all. And it went away. This gives a little reassurance to me, that there is indeed s.th., but nothing so sinister...(as you know, I have antibodies against my nerve system, taking cortisone actually, but it did'nt help me yet.)

[Xina535]

Hi German

As far as I am concerned, anything that came and went is always a good thing. Sinister stuff does not get better. With your auto immune syndrome, it will probably mean many symptoms that will come and go...good and bad days. I hope you can stay strong with it.

I am begging, praying, hoping, baby stepping, etc etc that my hand shows any sign of improvement. So far, more coordination issues and more pain (in forearm now). I will definitely have to visit my orthopedic doc soon. I really really REALLY hope he can determine if tendinitis or arthritis or whatever and NOT that he'll be scratching his head again because he can't find the issue....which is practically what happened with any symptom I've had so far.

I get so scared ...was up until the middle of the night going through all of this with my father on the phone. I am going to take some extra anti anxiety meds tonight so I can be sure to sleep through the night.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts, concerns, advice, time, etc etc etc!

[readytocheckout]

So far, more coordination issues and more pain (in forearm now). I will definitely have to visit my orthopedic doc soon. I really really REALLY hope he can determine if tendinitis or arthritis or whatever and NOT that he'll be scratching his head again because he can't find the issue....which is practically what happened with any symptom I've had so far.

Awesome, you were able to copy my post even before I wrote it !! The above is me to a T.

My right hand coordination issues are still there and the forearm pain is really weird, it feels like a spasm pain which is affecting the hand and the twitching inside the forearm feels scary. I went to my osteopath this week and he told me I need to go to my GP for an ultrasound or xray of my arm. My osteo has been treating me now for about 2 months and nothing is getting better so he's not too sure now. I also went to a physio who said my right wrist is weaker than my left (I'm right handed too). OMG this is such a stressful experience. Everything I've read says that pain points away from *** but something is happening in my forearm, which I am also starting to notice in my left forearm. I'm also starting to get pain in my right arm just above the elbow, and pains in my hands and wrists.

Far too hyperaware that's me, but the pain and hand/arm problem is real. I recently had a clean EMG so now I have no idea what to do.

Just curious to know what others experience in terms of pain from BFS. I can't even do a bicep curl with a 4kg dumbbell without feeling forearm pain. I'm getting ankle and feet pain too.

Take care Xina, I really hope you start feeling better. (sorry to hijack your thread)

[Xina535]

Hi Readytocheckout:

It seems we have very similar issues with our hands and arms. My discomfort is shooting up my right forearm. We both had clean EMGs. However, and I can't remember completely, but were't you diagnosed with carpal tunnel? If so, then, I would say that is what is going on in your hand, forarm, elbow and wrists. I read that those areas are affect and also start happening in the other arm.

I don't have any answer yet. I am just assuming and hoping (like you), that with pain, and clean EMG, then no ***. Just trying to force myself to understand the logic: that I use my right hand for 8+ hours a day typing and using my mouse and cell phone, so that it's something related to repetitive motion. What I hate the most is the dexterity and coordination issue. OMG, please please please give me all the pain you want, but take this weak crap away!!!!!!

I called my ortho and I can go there on Monday early and hopefully then he will take an x-ray or something to see that there is inflammation or arthritis or whatever (any answer, PLEASE).

I am not sure about your ankle or foot pain. For me, I have only noticed that I get a point under my right foot, kind of in the center, that will ache like as if it has just cramped, but did not cramp. And it is very faint, but I notice it (hyperaware maybe). I am going to keep an eye to see if that gets worse.

The other two things I've noticed and am keeping an eye on: I have chest pain, on the same right side. It feels like like delay soreness from lifting weights, but only on that side. When I turn and stretch out my right arm towards the back, it hurts!! The other thing, I developed this constant buzzing/vibration feeling in my right cheek. Never had anything happen there before, but this crawly feeling is there, for almost as long as my right hand problem. I haven't been focused on these two things because 1) BFS = can get buzzy stuff and 2) I thought I probably pulled my chest muscle. But now, since these things are constant and not going away, and all on my right side (including the foot thing), I'm getting extra nervous.

[Xina535]

Hi everyone,

I just got done with my orthopedic, and I am so disappointed, upset and overwhelmed. Crying my eyes out waiting for the bus, looking like an idiot. He didn't take any time, he looked at my hands, forearms, and neck muscles and said I need to strengthen them since they are weak, and I have weak tendons. I asked him about the pain, since it's worse and nothing helps it. He said ibuprofen. I said that I've been taking it but it doesn't help, and that, if he looked in my report history, taking too much ibuprofen gave me gastritis before. So he said leave ibuprofen away and take a different over the counter pain med. And to strengthen. I said I've tried to work out but it hurts, and he said not to do it with weights, but more like progressive muscle relaxation (gripping tight for a few seconds then releasing). He was so fast that I couldn't even tell him about my other symptoms like chest pain, under foot, cheek, etc.

So I am left with my pain, was told I have weakness, "but it's not the bad kind", and crushed hope. Not sure what to do now. My husband know how my hand has been hurting and bothering me, but also doesn't know what else to do. I think I will try to see my primary doctor this week. Maybe chest pain is still due to gastritis, since I've been taking ibuprofen again.

[Yuliasir]

well, it is sad that your doctor was so running fast... but he (or she) had definitely mentioned that your weakness is not of bad kind so maybe we are in the similar situation - not trained at all... in that term I am a weak person.
Isometric training your doctor suggested are really good (however they also cause pain as any other workout).

my advice would be to see another one artopedist who is known for less tight schedule and more nice bedside manner as pain need to be managed and preferably without a damage to GIT.

[Tohapane66]

Hi Xina

Sorry to hear your troubles. You are definitely not alone with arm pain. I too have quite bad finger, wrist and forearm pain. Although I get in both arms, it is far worse on the left side. Just like you I am right handed, so can not explain why my left hurts more. I find my pain tends to come and go. Pain is particularly bad after use eg swimming, or spending a long time on the computer.

The pain really bothered me at the start (I am only about 7 months into this) of my twitching. My neurosurgeon tested this limb NCV and EMG, both normal. He told me I had some strain or tendonitis. He was able to pin point a few trigger marks. Like you I was told to take some anti inflammatories, which had zero impact. He sent me off to a muscle skeletal expert who gave me some exercises to help. However, I found these not to be of any help at all.

Funny thing is I don't (as yet anyway) get many fasciculations in my arms or hands, maybe a few a day and the occasional hot spot that can last a day or so. However, my legs and feet are much more active in terms of twitching - 24/7. Yet I do not get any such pain in my legs or feet.

It seems that pain is a common symptom of some suffers of bfs and that some of symptoms can overlap fibromyalgia. This seems to fit many situations. I would rather the twitching than the pain. The latter is more restrictive for me in doing certain things.

Sorry can't help explain. Just to let you know that you may not be alone with your trouble.

Good luck.

Tom

[Xina535]

Hi everyone, sorry it's been awhile. As an update here, I went to my primary doctor. She was upset to hear my ortho just told me to take pain meds. She said "no pain meds, we need to get your gastritis better" so I am on 3 meds for that (2 are homeopathic). Have not seen a real improvement there. Chest hurts just the same. Now with the chest pain, tingling in my right cheek that has not gone away, and these tingling feelings in my right arm, I'm getting freaked out that maybe this us heart or stroke related? Like....if stroke, wouldn't I know if I had one? Would I have symptoms for this long if it were a stroke?

I did have a full body massage that night after the ortho appt, and when I woke up the next morning before my primary doc appt, it was the first time I felt any relief in my hand. I told her that and she said I should have another massage and see what happens. I did but unfortunately the symptoms all came back. I will have to back and tell her, and probably seek a different ortho....or maybe cardiologist??

So all in my right side: chest pain, tingling cheek, hand dexterity issues, Thenar pain, tingling and occasional twitching in hand and under my foot pain in the middle. That (under foot) has been getting worse, gradually.

Left side: problem with left thigh still (hardened and painful outer muscle, good and bad days) and under foot center pain started and is also constant

Overall: body wide twitching is down, way down, just occasional jumpy twitches. Happy about it, trying to enjoy that while it lasts.

Scared though that these pains are going to develop into cramps, or that they are cramps, but I can't tell (although I believe one would know when there is a cramp, muscle contracts and it is hard to get it to straighten out).

I appreciate everyone always reading and sharing their stories. I hate you are going through any of these symptoms. We are all here in the same boat looks like, so I am going to imagine us in a big yacht sailing away into a gorgeous sea, Yuliasir is the Captain, and we're all enjoying the breeze, sun, and watching the dolphins play. Some nice thoughts before going to sleep.