Damage from EMG - Neuropathy Message Board

fva778 · 03-06-2008, 03:02 PM

For the past year, I have been passed around from specialist to specialist because of nerve and muscle issues similar to those of MS. One of the earlier specialists had done an EMG on my right arm and left leg, and everything was normal. On Friday, another specialist conducted an EMG on my left arm and right leg. One of the last needles were stuck into the interior side of my calf, and as soon as it went in, I was in extreme pain, my leg dropped on the table, I felt a burning sensation, and then my whole leg went cold. The doctor had to stop for about 5 minutes before she finished the test. She said that the EMG results were normal, and when I left, I had to walk on the outside of my foot, and could barely put any pressure on it at all. When I got to the truck, my husband had to lift me up because I didn't even have enough strength to get into it.

He took me to my job, and after about 30 minutes of sitting in my chair, I went to stand up, and I couldn't put any pressure on my leg whatsoever, and I still had the same feelings and pains in my leg, along with tightness and swelling. I have been on crutches ever since and can still not put any pressure on my leg at all. I even went to the ER the other day, and they said that they could only do an ultrasound of my leg to make sure I didn't have any clots, which thankfully I didn't.

What damage could this have caused and could it be permanant? I'm so frustrated, and in more pain than I have been throughout this whole year of testing.

Thanks for any help or advice you could give me!

unsinkable47 · 03-06-2008, 08:28 PM

WOW!!

I have no idea what it could be from. Sounds to me as if you should go to another neurologist, not associated to the other doctors. I have had 4 EMG's done and nothing like that has happened. I have heard said that an EMG is only as good as the doctor performing it. So, maybe she did something wrong.

I am not real big on our health care system at all. I have had some strange experiences myself. I quit seeing one neurologist because while he was doing an EMG on me he started ranting and raving about something to do with his wife going to a Gynecolgist and the doctor told her she needed a hysterectomy and while he is going on about this he is getting louder and louder, besides his office never seemed very clean to me.

Then I told him that I checked him out and he did not even belong to the American Medical Association and then he started ranting and raving about them (I waited until he was done with the EMG of course)

He started cursing about how they are out to get your money Blah, Blah... So, I told him he is the oddest specialist I ever met and that for his patients he owes them to be registered. Then he said that most neurologist had mental issues. Obviously I could see that he did.

Anyway,I don't want to bore you with the rest but every appointment I had with him, he was different and weird, and his office always seemed dirty to me.

So, now I drive 3 hours to Chicago just to get decent medical care. The docs around here have a lot to be desired. Maybe you could find a university hospital as I did. They seem much better to deal with.

Anyway, I hope you find out soon what is going on, because as most of us know on this board it is so, so hard to cope with agonizing pain on a daily basis. Just put one foot in front of the other and take one day at a time.

ACOhio · 03-07-2008, 01:54 AM

Don't know for you, but here's what I've been told. I have had a few EMGs, some better than others. But I have been told by two different neurologists that too many can alter results and can also cause problems.
With my EMG's my neurologists try to minimize the use of one of my limbs. They say that if they need to do biopsies, that overtesting can effect the results. They also told me that too many too soon can also alter your EMG results. And if the nerves are "stressed", or not functioning properly from recent aggravations from EMGs that this can effect results. It can also cause damage. Don't know if they meant permanent or not. (one of my neuro is private practice the other one is major medical school research facility)
You can check with these schools directly, or your insurance company can help find one they cover.
So sorry for your problem. But I would definitely "run" from that Dr. & follow up with another specialist dr. And I would go to a large institution, or Medical School. I would also include a thorough history, including adverse reactions to tests and all dates, places of previous EMGs.
Good luck, keep us posted.