EMG/NCS study

[Granbonny]

I'm having one of these test done Wed, on my right hand..I heard different things..on internet..some..it didn't bother..some said..it hurt like $%#(*..Neurologist doing it..probing my hand for what's causing the tinglin..(5 weeks now) Off and on pain .between wrist and elbow. I don't think it is carpal tunnel...Wrist brace helps some... but, I'm sure it came from too much computer on hard wood.(edge of computer table)....Other than surgery..what can be done to help?I know, stay off computer )..Bonnie

 

[Nancy]

I've had two of them. They are not fun. But the pain is more uncomfortable rather than excruciating. But then I have a high threshold for pain. Don't want to lie to you. Be prepared to feel it.

They do stick needles in your arm in various places where the nerves are located.

I thought I had carpal tunnel, but it was only a mild situation. I do wear a wrist brace at night and that helps, and I try to keep my fingers stretched out.

BTW, for what it's worth, I went to the ortho. doc (who is a friend of the family) to look at my trigger thumb. I mentioned the carpal tunnel thing, and he had me put my thumb way over to the opposite side of my hand and then felt the muscle at the base of the thumb. He told me that it was strong and therefore, carpal tunnel would not be a major problem for me. According to him, it is a problem if that particular muscle is weak. He's pretty experienced. Thanks to Joe, I do a lot of heavy work around the house, hence the muscle.

Good luck with the test.

 

[Granbonny]

Thanks, Nancy..the pain has not been bad since returning from our 2,100 mile 6 day car trip last week.(John's aunt celebrated her 100th birthday in Door County Wisconsin )..I'm sure helping load/unload luggage at 6 night's motels didn't help.....Trying to stay off computer..and walking dog with left hand..Will start wearing the brace at night..So, do you think..it will just take time for the tingling to go away?I have no pain in the hand..just like I said, when I overdo lifting, driving, ect.I do have pain pills from orth surgeon..Don't like to take them, tho..Bonnie

 

[Ross]

I don't think anyone can anwser that Bon. You'll have to go through that EMG and let the Doctors decide whats up and what to do from there.

 

[bvdr]

Hi Bonnie, I've had those studies and I disliked the NCS more than the EMG. During the last NCS I started trembling. The more I tried to relax and be still the worse it got. It was like I had the shivers! I just don't like to be shocked. The EMG wasn't too bad. Mine were on my legs though so I don't know if that is more intense than the arms but I would guess they would be pretty compatible.
Sorry you are having problems! I think carpal tunnel is treated with splints like Nancy mentioned. You might be right about the computer and the hard edge. Rearrange things to somehow relieve the pressure. Giving up the computer is not an option .

 

[Granbonny]

Ouch

Ouch

Yup, Nancy and Betty ..you both were right..However, when the Neurologist walked thru the door, young and handsome, I forgot about the test. the shocking part, I was laying on my back....Only one really hurt (in forearm)..but, when he told me to turn over and face the wall..I thought..here we go.... Needles between my fingers, in my arm and the worse, at the bottom of my neck (nape?) (found a patch there when I got home, had hubby to remove it to see if there was any blood. Nope....He said, you don't have carpal tunnel..but sure you have a pinched nerve in your neck..and you will need a cat-scan or MRI..I told him, NO MRI... He agreed about my mechanicl valve....so, bottom line..I called my Orthpaedic on the way home and spoke with his assistant.. Told him..the Neuroligist said, he will probably have the report done tomorrow and please call me... Was not suppose to see him until next monday...I hope to get a jump on the cat-scan...and get what treatment he ( Orthpaedic) wants me to have? He said, I can have the pinched nerve in neck WITHOUT pain...(neurologist)... Makes sense..because I have the tingling sometimes in upper arm..but mostly in the hand...(must be thousands of those nerves coming down from neck into arm/hand?..Final word, he said, computers are dangerous ( Don't tell my Hubby that.. Sneaking typing this while he is still outside Bonnie

 

[hensylee]

my bro in law's business is drawing maps, charts by way of some fancy computer programs and machinery(printers) - it has a name but my pumphead is firmly in place tonight and I lost the word - I have seen him shake his right hand a lot when he visits us and gets on my computer - because it gets numb. My hand does, too sometimes. I bought one of those bumpers made of soft rubber to put under my wrist and it helps - get it in the computer dept. Also I have my keyboard low so that I don't rest my wrist on the keyboard shelf. I did much typing on typewriters and we never had this carpal tunnel problem because the typewriter keyboard was at a slant and our wrists never rested on anything. Course we didn't have a mouse either and that's mostly where the problem lies. Try the sponge rest, it may help.

Anyhow, yours is your neck nerves and I hope resting will help it. Keep us up to snuff on it.

P.S. the word is draftsman that my bro is.

 

[bvdr]

Bonnie, did you check to see if your valve is MRI compatible? Most are these days. I've got a card saying that mine is. It is interesting about the possible pinched nerve in your neck....that is why I had the cervical epidural. MRI works great to show problem areas of the spine. Some of the other ways used to diagnose spinal problems are more painful. I hope you get fixed up soon.

 

[Birky]

hand

hand

This sounds like my hands before surgery. I had the test done on both hands and they said they were negative for carpal tunnel. Had the tingling in both. Anyway, the Orthopaedic Dr. said that was not the gold standard anymore and he still felt that I had carpal tunnel. Had surgery on both and now there is no tingling. Was terrible at night. Would wake up and have to shake my hands to get rid of the tingling. I also had a thumb joint replaced when he did the carpal tunnel on the right hand. Hope it works out for you,

 

[Nancy]

Bonnie-

I don't know if you are a side sleeper or not, but I am and I found that when I slept without enough pillowage (is that a word?? ) under my neck so I could elevate my shoulder a little more, my hand would go to sleep, compressing the nerves that ran through my shoulder area and when I woke in the morning, I had a devil of a time getting it to wake up.

So I added an extra pillow, and it did help quite a bit.

There is another nerve which can become irritated, that's the ulnar nerve, and it can make your fingers tingle too. I have that from time to time too.

Mine's more of a chronic situation. It gets better and then it comes back. As long as I can shake out the tingles, it works for me. Having surgery is something I would like to avoid, since I do the bulk of the driving.

I do do hand stretches, stretching my fingers out as far as possible, and wrist stretches too.

 

[Granbonny]

Thanks all

Thanks all

Something like this can drive one nuts If it were my left hand..I would not think about it...but, going about regular day life..it comes and goes..and I think..don't do this..don't do that..to get the tingling worse..Didn't hear anything today..maybe tomorrow with the results..but I doubt it..so will just wait until my appointment with my Orthpaedic monday a.m.....Thankfully, I have had no pain since I returned from the long drive to Wisconsin...I am sure he (orthpaedic) will want me to continue with probably a cat-scan...on my neck...After he gets the results from that..I think I have decided to try a chiopractor(sp)...if it is a pinched nerve...Never been to one..but daughter did last year..when she had tingling, numbness in her left arm (due to resting it on car door..while driving back and forth for hours on her job. helped her after a few weeks...I know doctors don't like them ( chiopractors)and prefer PT......I have thought back to a few months ago..when we bought a new recliner.... I sit in it for 3 hours every a.m. Am an earlybird..and enjoy early news, talking on phone to daughter while she drives to work, ect...... Today, after a day of running around, ect. sat in it for an hour..When I got up..my arm /hand tinglined something awful for about 15 minutes..then gone? Just the tiny tingling now?...I googled something about pinched nerve in neck..Was surprised that one article showed trillions of nerves running from neck thru body..No wonder, we valvers hurt after surgery in our shoulders, back, ect. ..Well, this is my 1 limit on posting.. on computer today...sorry it was so long..Just have to read. Bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

Results from my EMG

Results from my EMG

Saw my Orthpaedic surgeon this morning...I said, when he walked into room. how did my torture test go. He said, they do hurt? don't they?..Same thing the Neurologist told me..No carpal tunnel..Maybe a pinched nerve in my neck? We both agreed that..I should not have anymore test..since, I have No pain..and tingling is going away..little/by/little................. I'm just going to baby my right hand...Hate not to be able to post anymore on VR.com..but, remember..I can read and post to one's that really feel like I can help...Have to rest my hand for 3 days..so I can meet Mary , Ann (hensylee and Danny in Panama city this weekend.... Bonnie

 

[Ross]

Saw my Orthpaedic surgeon this morning...I said, when he walked into room. how did my torture test go. He said, they do hurt? don't they?..Same thing the Neurologist told me..No carpal tunnel..Maybe a pinched nerve in my neck? We both agreed that..I should not have anymore test..since, I have No pain..and tingling is going away..little/by/little................. I'm just going to baby my right hand...Hate not to be able to post anymore on VR.com..but, remember..I can read and post to one's that really feel like I can help...Have to rest my hand for 3 days..so I can meet Mary , Ann (hensylee and Danny in Panama city this weekend.... Bonnie

Oh you'll do anything to get out of talking to me won't you?

 

[Granbonny]

Ross

Ross

I love you......I love you...I love you..I love you.........Now, don't ask me to post to you again...... Need to save my posting finger... Need it to deal with Danny in Panama City Bon

 

[Ross]

No, you need to BE IN PANAMA CITY!