Hi, is it possible to have a normal EMG of the extremities with a symptomatic syrinx? A recent MRI showed I have a small linear T2 hyper intense area, likely a syrinx primarily at c6-c7. The report states that it may benefit from follow up. It does not specify Chiari malformation. It says the cerebellar tonsils are within normal limits and the cord does not appear expanded. I’ve had multiple symptoms consistent with a syrinx, reported way before ever hearing of such a thing. Right sided numbness on face and in arm, right thumb gets “locked” in place and fingers draw inwards when this happens, right arm gets extremely heavy/achy and hard to move, tingling between shoulder blades, pain under right ribs and even on right collarbone area with deep breaths, vertigo, ringing in ears. The doc had sent me to actually rule out MS, but he said no signs of MS and he doesn’t think the syrinx would cause symptoms. I’ve only had MRIs of lumbar, cervical and of the brain. No thoracic and no contrast images. Lumbar was a few months prior to others because of left lower back/tailbone pain and left leg pain. Aside from this everything else Im experiencing is on the right. Brain only mentioned prominent atria of the lateral ventricles, right greater than left which may represent underlying cysts. Lumbar showed a couple herniated discs. The neuro is not confident my other symptoms are neurologically related because of my normal EMG. Can you have a normal EMG with a symptomatic syrinx? And would they need to do a full spine MRI to rule out potential causes?
Also after speaking to my dad about all this, turns out he was told a few years ago he has a syrinx causing some of his pain, but they couldn’t find an underlying reason for his. It seems like this is pretty rare so to hear he has one also was kind of surprising.