EMG Questions

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LadyVols

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I just got back from the neurologist & have a few questions for you fellow back sufferers. I have pretty severe spinal stenosis in all 3 areas of my back. I've learned to deal with the lurabar problems by not standing or walking (very little anyway) and the neck area by not sitting upright at the computer or while watching TV, etc.

The middle area of my back is a different story. The pain shooting toward my right side from a few inches above my bra strap area down to 3 to 4 inches below that area is getting unbearable. My neuro is also a pain management doctor & he upped my medicine a bit (I don't take a lot due to bad drug issues in my immediate family & it scares me so I stay in bed a lot).

He decided I needed an EMG and when his nurse was making my appointment, I asked her what it was. She said it's a test for my muscles & nerves in my legs. Taking neurontin has helped my leg pain a lot as long as I don't do any standing like to cook, shop, etc. Does an EMG just test lurabar OR thoracic OR cervical? I don't think I need a test for my legs & I'm on a very limited liability insurance through the state & I can only have 3 tests of any kind per year so I don't want to waste one to have my legs tested. Does the test cover my entire back? I'm sorry this is so long & I'm rarabling. I'm just confused & a little scared.
 
Hello ~

You might want to call your doctor's nurse back for a clarification. The EMG can cover any area of the spine, but usually, due to time constraints and the effect on the patient, they do one or two parts at a time. I know my neurologist doesn't like to have a test run longer than an hour at a time.

Perhaps there is some specific information your doctor is seeking from having the EMG on the lurabar spine??

I would call the nurse, ask what specifically they are testing, and I would explain the situation with your insurance, just as you described it here. Medical personnel are getting very tuned into limitations put on them by insurance companies, and the patient's difficulty in paying the charges without insurance. They deal with this all the time, so don't be shy about bringing it into the conversation.

If your lurabar area is pretty well under control as far as you are concerned, I don't see why the doctor would insist on an EMG/nerve conduction study for that area. It sounRAB like it is the thoracic area that is causing you the most pain at the moment, and you would like some answers concerning it....maybe you need to drive that point home to the doctor, via your conversation with his nurse.
 
Thank you so much for your reply! Do you know if they do more than one area at the same time, would it all be considered one test? I think I'll take your advice & call. She's one of these very hurried type people so I'm not sure how much time she'll give me. At the least, when I go I will re-enforce that my pain is much worse in the thoracic level. She came into the room toward the end of my discussion with the doctor so she may just be assuming what he wants. Thanks again!
 
I'm sorry but I do not know the answer to your question. You could call the billing dept. where you are having the test performed, and ask them. Or perhaps someone who does medical billing will see this and respond!
 
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