Mge, nerve conduction test...anyone have one?

Amanda, I have had a couple of electromyograms for ulnar nerve problems, but it was many years ago (I ended up having ulnar nerve transposition surgeries twice).. It has been a long time, but I remember the needles as being very fine and much like the ones used for acupuncture. They conduct electricity to the needles and then trace the nerve reaction. I'll be honest that the test is not fun, but not horribly painful either.

I'm with Melissa... I've had 2 EMG's - one several years ago that just involved an arm and leg. Less than 2 years ago? I had one for those same areas plus my back and neck. The first one smarted in each area though only for a split second. I never felt a thing with the 2nd one. I have polyneuropathy now though did not then so don't know if that makes a difference? I also think there was something about the doc who did the second one.... Best to you!

I'm glad it went well for you! Ironic you mention the likelihood of lymph fluid irritating things. I just finished P.T. for tennis elbow. Even during that treatment and since I would get this knotty kind of swelling on the inside of my elbow that comes and goes. I am now in lymphedema therapy and showed it to my L.T. yesterday and mentioned this ongoing what feels like nerve pain running down my upper arm - also comes and goes. She believes both are related to lymph fluid and the elbow inflamed lymph nodes as well. She also thinks I will be good to go after 3 more sessions??? My cording is improving though we'll see about these lymph areas..... The outpatient part of her organization is closing in 2 weeks or so, so that will be the end of our times. I'll wait and see where things are at that point... I hope you get more relief!!!

amanda.... My LT said something like that about the elbow as well though she also told me I'm at low risk for lymphedema b/c I'm lean (I'm not thin - truly not though lean fits...) - she said lean people tend to get cording and heavier people tend to develop lymphedema though some of your pics (people plural) show thin or lean people so obviously thin-lean people get lymphedema too. I did have very bad tennis elbow so it all got mixed up. My tennis elbow is much better (93%) and I can clearly tell the pain is now different than that though some of the pain from the tennis elbow time I now realize is more lymph node/fluid related.

So how can this not be lymphedema if she agrees my nodes in my elbow are inflamed and fluid is not flowing as it should? She agreed the nerve type pain in my bicep area is likely lymph node/cording related as well. My arm as a whole is not swollen though the area in one of my node elbow areas, like yours is. She could see that. My arm was soooo painful last night when sleeping which is now not unusual. I've found Aspercreme is quite helpful.... So I'm concerned she thinks I'll be good to go in a few more sessions...? They are closing the outpatient part of the business though she thinks I also will be better by then. I've had 2 sessions so far - tomorrow the 3rd... I'm new to this so also thinking she could be right for this time around.... I really like her and she seems to know a lot and what she's doing....

Thanks for your comments! Best wishes to you as well!

Really interested about the nerve test, what results would show, and what the treatment if Dxd would be. For a long time I've had issues with numbness/tingling. Noticed it most when driving long distances. This came on before cancer ( or at least before it was detected) and definitely before lymphedema. It got worse overtime especially with lymphedema. I suspect cancer treatment and surgery made it worse. Several have posted their frustrations with lymphedema, lack of knowledge, lack of concern, lack of treatment, lack of a cure. I add my frustrations to that. I've been told there is no cure, and that I need to be vigalent about managing it. I've been told that Medicare does not cover much of lymphedema treatment and that I should keep my private. Regular exercise, stretching and hydration help.

A few years ago I saw PT for it (before lymphedema). One of the exercises he suggested were "flys". When going to the gym in the before covid days I was doing this as part of the Strive Circuit Weights. I could do this exercise with a tension/theraband at home , but don't. No excuses, I just don't. I am finding that the gym did energize me to streatch, do weights much more than I do at home. I did like the treadmill and stationary bike, but enjoy the outdoors so much, I tend to get lots of hiking/walking, and now x-country. Looking forward to getting back to the gym and adding swimming as a regular part of the program. . Acupuncture also helps. Demo of fly , ,

2009 ER+ left breast. 52 yrs. Lumpectomy, Sentinel node removal, negative. Radiation 6 weeks, tamoxifen 5 years. Dense lumpy left breast, normal right.

2016 ER+ left breast. Probably a new cancer, but unknown. 4 rounds TC Aug-Oct 2016, Bi-lateral (my choice) Nov 2016, no reconstruction. 2 sentinel nodes remove, negative. Anastrozole 1 mg starting May 2017. Joint issues noticed immediately. Stopped Anastrozole after 3-4 months due to joint stiffness in. After several months of no AIs, fingers were feeling better. Started tamoxifen March 2018.

6/18/2019 Noticed Swelling in R-arm, opposite side from where lymph nodes removed. Urgent Care, suspected clot. None found, but lots of fluid, referred to my DR. Who referred my to lymphedema therapist (without seeing or talking to me). Fortunately therapist recognized that something was very wrong since it was on the opposite side. After a variety of imaging and biopsy, DX'd 9/2019 as a new cancer in R-axilla, ER+ Ibrance and Arimidex

Hi amanda6, thanks for updating us on how you are doing. I still think we are having some similar problems - my nerve problem (which is mostly my right index finger, but also sometimes my thumb and occasionally my middle finger) are also still having trouble, although things may have improved ever so slightly. This is what I have been doing to try and help things:

I got in with my LE therapist who measured my arm and did find measurably more swelling in my right arm - my upper arm in particular was fully 2cm bigger than it is supposed to be! So my MO and my LE therapist both think the new nerve pain is indirectly because of my prior surgery and radiation, yes, but more directly from the lymphedema flare that is currently in my upper arm.

My LE therapist suggested that we do some wrapping, which we have been doing about once a week for the last few weeks, and I have found that to be helpful and even gentler than than wearing the regular day compression sleeve. Sure, it's bulky, but I find that it helps me feel better. I have also gotten and been wearing the Solaris tribute night sleeve. It is also gentler than the regular day sleeve, but still provides compression. I also find this really helps. My arm measurements have gone down since doing these two things, and the nerve pain has decreased.

Your point about your regular day compression sleeve pressing on the nerve and causing pain is interesting to me, because I think my regular day sleeve was also doing that on my upper inner arm, even though the sleeve supposedly fit. I finally broke down and went on a new compression sleeve quest and found another brand that isn't so constrictive where the silicone band is. This alone has lessened my nerve pain I think, and I plan to buy a few more sleeves by this brand. I discussed it with my LE therapist, and she said that absolutely some brands are a better fit for some people than others, just because of the way our different bodies fit into those predetermined sleeve size charts.

I also got a LE pump that ends at the shoulder, but I have to "fail" at this pump before my insurance will cover the flexi touch. I still hope this pump will help in the meantime though. I only got it in the mail today so I have not tried it yet.

So to recap, I got wrapped, I got a different brand of day sleeve after some experimentation, I got a night sleeve, and I will soon try a pump.

It's so much work managing LE but I want to do the best I can with it because nerve pain is really unpleasant and is impacting my hobbies and things that are important to me. I really don't want it to get worse. Anyway, that is my very long essay about this. Thanks again for posting about your experience with this - it has really helped me to make sense of what is going on with me too.

I had a R mastectomy 4 years ago and things were fine until this past spring when my R arm started feeling kind of weird. To make a long story short, I currently use a Mediven Harmony sleeve and glove in the day and in the night I wear a Sigvaris Medaform and Medaglove. My oncologist also referred me to neurology because I felt like I was feeling less sensation in my R hand and forearm.

I got the nerve conduction test and EMG which was mostly normal, but there was something a little weird so I got an MRI to see the nerves between my neck and R arm. Then I got a second MRI of just my neck because the first MRI showed a glimpse of a pinched nerve in my neck. The neurologist referred me to physical therapy so I have my first PT appointment next week.

Hi BlueGirl,

I do not have a lymphedema therapist at this time because we were not exactly sure if the issue was actually lymphedema or not. My oncologist had me start wearing the sleeves just in case but she told me she is not a lymphedema expert and is pretty much just guessing so my plan is to ask the physical therapist at my initial appointment on Thursday if they know if a lymphedema specialist is available (I get my health care through the VA), and if one is, I will ask my oncologist to refer me to that person as well. If there is not a lymphedema specialist available at the VA, I can ask if I can get referred to one outside of the VA.

I am pretty sure I do not have carpal tunnel because when I saw the neurologist, they had me do the test where you put the backs of your hands together and bend your wrists, and nothing happened (as in it was not painful and did not cause any tingling or other weird feelings). Also, I am a software engineer and I have never felt pain or weirdness from typing and I am on the computer all day, so I think if I had carpal tunnel, I may have been able to notice it sooner.