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Posted by am36 (Member # 9409) on :
 
hi. I'm new here.
I've been having a host of neurological (and other) symptoms for 3 years, cause of which unknown. I have some severe muscle weakness that fluctuates. Dr. did an extensive emg yesterday and was shocked that it came up totally clean. I am waiting on blood test results for Lyme (we used to have deer in our yard).

Question for those who have muscle weakness caused by Lyme , could it cause muscle weakness that doesn't pick up on an emg? (by the way I'm walking, the doctor would have been less surprised to find ALS than to find nothing!)

thanks

[ 12. June 2006, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: am36 ]
 
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
 
From what I have heard, emg and other nerve tests on people with lyme sometimes come up abnormal, other times normal (different people). So, apparently it is not much good for diagnosis or for documenting the damage.

I am in the middle of getting this testing, not sure what the results are yet. But I don't personally see the usefulness of it. There is a blood test too, that is given to people with muscle wasting. I have muscle wasting, and mine was normal. Getting pretty disillusioned with testing in general.

Since some people with lyme have had this testing, been told they had ALS, but then responded to lyme treatment, it can't be much good at diagnosing.
 
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
 
THE EMG test in my humble opinion does'nt diagnos squat!

I have had to undergo two such exams...

One to see if the incorrect diagnosis of post polio syndrome was accurate and the second after my lyme diagnosis for perypheral neuropathy which I have SYMPTOMS of...

This disease does'nt dammage our nerves to the extent the EMG was designed to detect...

This disease interrupts the signals our brains transmit to our central nervous system and gives us numbness and pain which mimick other diseases that cause the nerve symptoms.

zman
 
Posted by lalyme (Member # 8964) on :
 
Hi,

Just saw a great Lyme Neurologist who basically said the EMG's are useless as diagnostic tools for Lyme. So don't be surprised if it comes up clean. Lyme is far too complex for an EMG.
 
Posted by am36 (Member # 9409) on :
 
thanks
No, the emg is not a fun test. I have to wait on the blood test a little because I've been on prednisone to treat what they originally thought this was. Weaning off now. In the meantime having severe muscle difficulty including breathing and swallowing, autonomic dysfunction causing heart related things etc etc. Not in a very good place, and all I could do now is wait. No one thought to check for Lyme because I now live overseas where it doesn't exist.
 
Posted by trails (Member # 1620) on :
 
Where overseas...coz Lyme has been found in MANY other places other than US/Can.

EMG tests are the pits and are very painful.

Mine was mostly neg but did show some damage to nerve roots of which there was NO CAUSE except lyme.
 
Posted by Trina (Member # 9270) on :
 
The blood needs to be clean of antibiotics for 6 weeks to get good results on a lyme test.My Doc told me this and later also read this in a lyme disease book.Do not know if this would have applyed to you or not just thought you might like to know.
 
Posted by 6t5frlane (Member # 8628) on :
 
Trina, I beleive the ABX ? is not yet been answered. I've heard both sides Off ABX or use it for 2 weeks before the test. Not sure what is right
 
Posted by hurtingramma (Member # 7770) on :
 
I had a couple of these tests done early on in my disease. Both were "normal". One was done normally, the other done under a heated blanket as heat effects the nerves. I do have peripheral neuropathy also.
 


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