emg test

[keebler]

<span style="font-family:Georgia"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Hi all, style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wavey.gif
I have been having pain with my right hand since June 30. My hand has been swollen, very painful and it has hurt in my wrist too. It hurts to move it or turn it. It feels like someone has a hold of my hand and wrist and is squeezing as hard as they can. Pain pills didn't even help me one night,the pain keept waking me up. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crying.gif

I went to the doctor and he wants to rule out carpal tunnel, so I'm scheduled for an EMG next Thursday. He thinks I have less than 30% chance of having carpal tunnel. I did a search on the board about EMG test. I feel better about it but thought of needles kinda scares me. Needles and I don't get along. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/scaredy.gif When it comes to getting shots or lab draws, I give them that body part, then look the other way. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/notlook.gif I know I'm a big whimp!

He also asked if I would consider a short burst of pred. I told him from what I have read and the side affects, I didn't want to do it. Plus with heart failure I have to be careful in what meds I take. Isn't there other meds out there a person can take besides pred to get a flare down?

Thanks all for letting me vent and ask questions.
Take care,
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Keebler

PS Elaine I like your theroy better why my hand hurts.</span></span> style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bigsmile.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[wifajax]

Hi Keebler! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hide.gif

I'm so sorry to hear that you've been suffering with your hand. I don't have any words of advice to offer. I just wanted to let you know that I'm sending good vibes your way. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/goodvibes.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/goodvibes.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/goodvibes.gif

Terri

[Tom]

Keebler, style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hugbetter.gif

I hope it turns out to be something easy to treat and that they find the reason quickly. Good luck and let us know.

Take care. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif

[Lily]

(((((((Lyn)))))))) style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hugbetter.gif I'm sorry you are dealing with this right now.

I guess it makes sense to rule out the carpal tunnel situation and try and determine if this really is a result of a flare. If it is then the short term steroids do make sense. What other meds are you taking for your Lupus right now?

love
Lily

[keebler]

<span style="font-family:Georgia"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">HI Lily,
The only meds for my lupus are, generic plaq 200 mg two times a day. My anti flam is salsalate 750 mg 1 tablet 4 times a day then then the next day it is only 3 a day. I had trouble with ringing in my ears so had to back off of it a day. One of nsaid's side affect is retaining fluid. Which would make my heart work harder. I think though will need to address that subject when we get the report from the emg test.

I know I might have to go ahead with pred, as a last restort if this is a flare. It does scare me though from everything I have read and heard.
Thanks for replying.
Take care,
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Lyn

Thank you Teri and Tom for your good wishes. It is great to have friends that understand.
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Lyn</span></span>

[laker]

Keebler,
I have had several emgs and they were not bad at all so don't worry. It will not be nearly as bad as the pain you are having now with your hand and maybe will help lead to a solution. You won't be able to see the needle which helps. And my neuro talks so much the whole time that I hardly noticed the procedure. One of my emgs was done with a little pen like device instead of needles. Maybe you could have it done that way - but if you can't - I don't think it will bother you that much. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.
Laker

[keebler]

Hi TeriJ,
My blood presure is actually to low. It was 94/70 when I was in the doctor's office. I guess I'm just extra carefull when it comes to meds and my heart. I went threw a year of getting my heart function back to normal. I really don't want to mess that up and go threw that again. (they did mention a defib/pacemaker if my heart function didn't get back up) I know I might have to take the pred as a last resort. Thank you for your words of encouragment!
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Lyn

Hi Laker,
Thank you for telling me about how the test will go and feel. It has helped me so much. Thank you for your care and concern.
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Lyn

[Maia]

Have you gotten a brace to wear at night yet? I know that just wearing a brace at night can put the wrist
in the best position possible to reduce carpal tunnel and usually b4 any testing they will do a trial with
a brace to see if it helps at all. You should be able to buy one yourself at a local pharmacy if the doc won't
get you one through the hospital. It should be a brace with very firm support so you cannot bend your
wrist.

I'm not quite sure why he is so sure it isn't carpal tunnel, as people with inflammation associated autoimmune diseases are more prone to it than the general population. Carpal tunnel is usually also worse at night... like you describe although the wrist isn't usually red/swollen but I would guess you are actually suffering from both a lupus joint inflammation that is also causing carpal tunnel....

Anyways, a short burst of prednisone would help no matter which it is or if it is actually both conditions. Short bursts are pretty safe actually, it's when you are on longer term that you have more concerns and even then the benefits of pred outweigh the concerns or else patients wouldn't stay on it style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif I've been there, and it was definitely worth it!

Best wishes!

[keebler]

Hi,
I had my EMG test done this morning. The doctor said I did not have carpal tunnel. He thought it was inflammation from lupus. He is sending a report to my GP,he will call me and talk to me next week. I do have a few more questions to ask him. I have been wondering if I have arthritis in my hands.

You all were right the test wasn't that bad. I must of had a worried look on my face:worried: he keep on saying don't worry this is easy.:umm:

I'm relived it isn't carpal tunnel, I didnt' want or need another problem. It has been a long flare, it doesn't hurt as bad as it did. I do feel blue about it though, I had to send some work back that I couldn't finish because of my hand hurting so bad.( I update plat maps at home) It feels like lupus won this round but I'm tough I will get threw it.
:love2:
Lyn


PS Thank you Maia for your reply!

[Tom]

Keebler, :hugbetter:

I'm glad it's not carpal tunnel too. My wife has the same problem and the doc says it's Raynaud's causing it for her. Whatever it turns out to be, I hope relief comes very soon for you.

Don't be sad, we are just reminded from time to time that we have this disease. It just forces us take a break sometimes. :sad:

Take care and hang in there, tomorrow is another day! :flowery:

[bugsy]

Hiya Lyn :hello:

I am sorry to hear that your hand is troubling you but i am pleased that the emg wasn't that bad and that it has turned out not to be carpel tunnel.

Try not to think that lupus as won as i am sure that you will beat lupus in many a situation thru out day to day living.

Take care of yourself :hug: Jo :hug: