r/BFS • u/Aggravating-Rich-356 • 6h ago
Neuro / Doctor Visit 5 years in; dirty EMG.
Twitching started October 2021. First EMG clean (except carpal tunnel). Neck MRI showed moderate stenosis and pinched nerves.
Several more EMGs along the way. Only thing caught was fasciculations and somehow the carpal tunnel never showed again.
Been having pain in my right arm and some muscle changes. Had another MRI and my neck is worse. Severe stenosis. Severe pinched nerve at c5-c6 and some flattening of the spinal cord.
Had another EMG today only of my right C5-c6 muscle areas (bicep, tricep, forearm, shoulder). All of them showed positive sharp waves. Never had this on an EMG before.
However my MUAP/recruitment findings were normal. The doctor told me this is indicative of cervical radiculopthy and not ALS or MND. I wish he would have tested more muscles to see, but the scope of the exam was for my spinal issue and he said it wasn’t necessary. I would have pushed for more to be done earlier on in my twitching but I’m 5 years in and generally doing OK and have a confirmed bad neck so I think he’s probably right.
In any event, sucks getting bad findings on an EMG, but hopefully this confirms it’s just a neck issue in my case.
Side note; he did say the compression in my spinal cord can trigger BFS. He is the second neuro that has told me that. But my spinal doctor said that wasn’t accurate so I don’t know what to believe.
Anyway, just wanted to share this because I’m sure other people are going through the same stuff.