Nerve conduction & EMG

[Sailorsong]

Today I had my latest tests done at the VA which has left me knid of confused. I have had nerve conductions tests done in the past (3x) and they have shown that I have Peripheral Neuropathy each time (the last one was done 1.5 years ago). But when the tests were done today the doctor said there was nothing wrong with my nerves other than my left ankle which she attributed to recent trama (I have had no recent trama to my left ankel). This makes no sense to me because my legs and feet are still numb. The one doctor admitted that with his exam I presented with peripheral Neuropathy clinically. I did notice during the test when I could see the screen that they were increasing the electrical signal quite a bit. They would start out with 253V & .1ma and would end up at 400V & .1ma. Not sure if that kind of increase would mask any nerve problems or not. One other thing during the test kind of freaked me out. While testing one spot on my left leg my right foot would jerk when they applied the shock. Kind of like there is a short circuit somewhere between my left and right legs. But I guess I shouldn't be too surprised by that. When I go to the Dentist they always have problems to numb my mouth in the right spot. They would give me a shot of novacane to numb the lower right back of my jaw and my mouth would become numb on the opposite side.

Dennis

[doublevision1]

Karen, yes I believe that is correct.  At least that is my understanding of how my doc explained it to me.

[kmil1999]

Ok, this is probably a dumb question.  Earlier in this thread, there was talk about an EMG.  Do I understand this right?  If you have numbness and tingling and the EMG is done and it is negative, this means that it is not peripheral neuropathy and possibly caused somewhere in the CNS?  Thanks for the imput.  Karen

[Ufrustrated2]

That is good to hear and good for you. Some VAs & staff are the best in the world, no doubt about it. I've been & seen a few. Others, not good. That is kinda like life in general, some good, some not so good. The civilian doctors i saw in northern california were not near as good as the one's at the VA.

[Sailorsong]

I have actually been getting better care from the doctors at the VA for the most part than when I was going to civilian doctors near me. I could not get any of the civilian Neuros to even consider MS as a Dx or do any testing for it. I also had a bad stress test while seeing a civilian Cardiologist which was never checked into, but I now have a Catherization scheduled for next month to see what is going on with my heart.

Dennis

[Sailorsong]

The dentist told me that they are taught where the nerves in a mouth are located so that the novicane injection can be at the nerves to numb specific teeth. In my case the nerves are not in the right places so she started mapping where my nerves are on my chart for future visits. Prior to this dentists I usually would require 4 or 5 shots before a dentist would be able to work on my teeth. This amount basically numbed my entire mouth. Once she had mapped the nerves in my mouth it only took 1 shot to numb the right teeth.

[Ufrustrated2]

well Sarahsmom46,

indeed that is the VA! LOL    that can be a real strange place when it comes to diagnosis versus how one is diagnosed in the public sector.

>>...then suddenly have a "miracle" normal result.

sure, happens there, ;-)

hey denis, best of luck and well wishes ... navigating the VA is like a mine field.

[doublevision1]

Hi, sorry that I am not real familiar with your story, and am not sure why peripheral neuropathy would not show up in testing after previously being confirmed.  

However, in terms of the numbness in your feet and legs, perhaps this is due to dysfunction of the CNS?  Are you being investigated for MS?  As I understand it, in diagnosing diseases of the CNS including MS, the EMG study is only useful in ruling OUT peripheral nerve disease as one possible cause of neurological symptoms.  Further testing is required to determine if symptoms are as a result of a CNS disorder.  

I hope that makes sense.  Someone please correct me if I'm off base in my understanding.

[Sarahsmom46]

This is the VA, right?  I can not imagine how you could have abnormal EMGs and then suddenly have a "miracle" normal result.  How is that even possible?  I don't know a lot about peripheral neuropathy, but I have never heard of anyone completely recovering from it at the same time have symptos of it.  

There has to have been an error in the test, don't you think?  

You are quite the complex case Dennis.  I can imagine your dentist being completely dumbfounded by why the opposite side of your mouth becomes numb from an injection.  Does he/she have an explanation for why that may be happening?

I hope you guys can sort what is going on here. In the meantime stay focused on getting everything you need to get out of these VA docs.  I know they work hard and have huge patient loads, but that shouldn't comprise the quality of care you are getting.  

Thanks for the update and it is good to hear from you.

Julie