Hi. My lyme disease was contracted during work and i am on workmans comp. although they are trying to deny my claim.
They are sending me to a muscle function test this Friday and i dont know what to expect they will do or ask.
Has anyone gone through disability and had to go through this test and can you tell me what to expect.
This could possibly be one of those where the results could make me go back to work and i know i cannot at this time.
Anybody have any answers?
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Posted by 8man12 (Member # 7664) on :
if you have leg twitches it will pick them up..you may need to get a lyme doctor,on your side.lyme doesnt effect you muscles all the time,,,but it does effect the whole nervous system,and the entire body...you may want to go to columbia university's lyme study site,and have a spect scan..if you have anxiety attacks,and are sick all the time,,,get a psychiatrist..he can disable more than any other type doctor..read dr bransfields article on lyme disease.,,hope this helps.being sick with lyme,,you may hurt yourself or someone else at work.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Is this the EMG? I've heard it's painful. Why would they use this test to prove or disprove anything? especially Lyme??
------------------ Do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor, but I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express! oops! Lymetutu
Posted by bg (Member # 46416) on :
Lemon,
are you sure this isn't "conductive nerve study for neuropathy?
If it is, I went thru it earlier this year.
There are 2 kinds & I had them both done.
one is electrical SHOCKS and they do hurt for that brief amount of time from the shock for your NERVES to react to....
I've worn wrist splints for 20 years; tests said I did NOT have carpal tunnel syndrome. go figure.
showed no neuropathy too and couldn't explain the severe pain I have in my left thigh sciatic area....
bettyg
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
I have had muscular function tests. One part they use electrodes to shock the muscles. It does not hurt, may cause the arm or leg to twitch.
The other part is where they inset a needle into certain spots. I am not sure exactly how it works to determine if you have neuropathy or muscle problems.
I had a lot of muscle twitching and seizures due to lyme, but my muscle function tests were normal.
Good luck--it's not painful. Hiker
Posted by chroniclymie on :
this test is called an EMG electromylograph as said above it tests 2 things the conduction of electircity thru the nerves this is done with increasing strengths of electric shock with eletrodes attached to different muscles. second tests the tonicity of the muscles with a small needle moved around to different parts of theplace beening tested. this test hurts but is not intolerable,they stick you in 4-5 places for diferent muscles. Prior to any company tests performed, by company docs, you need to get a workman's comp lawyer. he will direct you in the right direction. going to the company docs is like a death sentence for getting workman's comp. i had hand surgery twice by the best hand surgeon in philly, and he said i was totally disabled. guess what the workman's comp doctor said. he said i had lyme disease and the hand was fine. the doctor's office was also the dirtiest office i have ever seen. you need protection and a ll laywer would certainly help. ask your llmd if he knows any ll lawyers in your area. they don't take any money until he wins your case, but the system is against you, you can not win by yourself no way no how, thats the system in a nutshell.
Posted by lemonhead (Member # 6267) on :
Thank you folks. I dont know if this is going to be an EMG. I have had one of those years ago when i hurt my back. It didnt show much either although, later i had a ruptured disc removed.
I do have a lawyer. He lives about 5 states from me and we have talked a bit about the tests. You know what five states means to a south Texan. Way over there so it doestnt really feel very comfortable. So the i am not sure how much this will help at the test. My husband is going with me as I am not quite able to spit things out always right.
I do know that my hands hurt typing this but i wonder whether an EMG will show pain. I dont think so. This is such a bum deal. Even my supervisor knows i cant go back to work now, but i cannot ask them to intervene.
I dont know if it will even be an EMG, or me just picking something up and moving it or whatever. My strength is pretty good, I cant lift what i use to, but then i was a mechanic and still pretty strorng. The main issue of course is the stamina.
I guess i am just going to have to pray to God that this all turns out we..
I think it is the psychiatric test or evaluation that they are going to have me do. I am trying to put a bit of info together from my doctor to give to them.
But you know how the brain works sometimes on thss lyme thing, i hope i dont say the wrong thing.
Thanks, all, and if anyone else wants to reply please do, here or email.
oops!