Hey Annalis, so the decompression surgery didn't do much for you? Only one week left till I get my EMG test done! Thankfully, I achieved pain free status on Sunday, and it has been pretty mild and tolerable most of the week.

The bad news is it is gone back to be severe today, and my neck is aching again. I looked back in my journal, and gosh it really does sound like my neck is the problem. I first hit my head against the headboard and suffered bad neck pain for a week. It was very stiff and I could barely turn my head. I went to a chiro who gave me my first ever neck adjustment. Three days later, neck pain is gone. Two days later though, numbness in the fingertips and soon I started complaining about funny bone pain and unabled to prop my elbow on the desk.

It just kills me to think that this chiropractor might have caused all this pain with that adjustment. I was already very leary and cautious about having my neck adjustment. I get it done one time, and I'm one of the few that gets screwed.


OTOH, if my neck is the soure of the nerve compression why is the pain so centered around my elbows? Hopefully I'll find out in a week!

Hey guys,

I'm back at work after a 3 day weekend and having the EMG test done. So glad it is over. The test didn't seem to take that long, but that's an experience I don't want to repeat often. The worst part was when he stuck the needle in the meat of my palm and warned me that it would be very intense, and it was!

I have mixed feelings about my results. The results basically showed nothing. Normal nerve function. It didn't help that I wasn't having a pain day that day so now I wonder if the test was all for nothing.

However, they told me if I had severe nerve damage or a strong compression, it would have showed up. The downside is this shifts the focus back to my neck, the one area where I don't want to have a problem. It looks like the next step is to have a MRI done on my neck.

So, sorry to hear about your setbacks and pain. Been there especially the pain part. Not that this will help now but for others reading this I've said this before that those nerve needle tests are only as good as the person interpreting them. My first one was given by a Doctor and he found nothing. He was at the pain clinic in the hospital. My second test (a month later) also done by a Doctor who does nothing but these kinds of tests proved not only a major problem but damage. The degree of pain and tingling had not changed in that month to make a difference. There is apparently room for interpretation. So, if you're going for one, check credentials and find out if your Doc/Tech does alot of these. As always, trust your own gut and push forward even when they tell you different. They don't have to live with it, you do!

Hey Dave,

Like Jennifaux says-negative emg/ncv results don't mean no entrapment or damage. I've had 2 normal emgs(left side), but when my doc did the surgery (based on my clinical presentation) he found severe compression. When my right sided symptoms started progressing, he didn't even order another emg. (My clawing, weakness, numbness and pain on the right were a little worse than on the left).

Hang in there and if this is bothersome for you, check out the credentials of the person who did your emg/ncv like jennifaux suggested. If you're not satisfied, talk to your ortho.

Chris

Ugh Chris, why did you have to tell me that? lol I don't like to think that the EMG test could read normal when there is really a serious problem. The guy that did my test was a neurologist and he told me that if I had a severely pinched nerve, it would have showed up.

one positive thing that can't be taken away is they did hand tests with me and told me that my hand strength was normal. I still can't figure out why working on the computer often immediately triggers the pain.

Hey Dave,

Well I didn't mean to upset you, but wanted you to know that there are sometimes false negative emgs. My doc actually sent me to neurology prior to my left transposition to rule out any MS or other neuro issues. The neurologist did peripheral nerve ultrasound and was able to "see" the entrapment that the emg/ncv's didn't show. Again, I didn't have any nerve studies on my right side, so who knows what they would have shown. I will say again that my symptoms on the right were more severe than on the left. My doc said that during the left decompression and trans. the nerve was compressed severely, but it was indented like an hourglass. My right was pretty much compressed flat.

The computer used to get me too. It's a pretty common complaint from CuTS sufferers. It really makes sense since your elbow is bent when you type or use the mouse.

take care and let us know what happens.

Chris