Monday, October 14, 2013

Another update

It's been awhile since I've posted. Since I've had no answers, I really didn't feel like posting. I had my MRIs several weeks ago & was supposed to see the neurologist last week. His office cancelled that appt & couldn't see me until Nov 4th. We called back & stressed that I needed to be seen before that, so I saw the nurse practitioner today.

The good news is that my MRIs are clear. So no MS! There is some arthritis in my cervical spine but according to them it is normal changes with age. They feel that the numbness/tingling is my fibromyalgia. She did listen to my concerns about the weakness/feeling off balance. I also stressed that I'd like to get back to walking, but fear I might fall.

After some testing in the office, she ordered an EMG with NCV. Confused yet? :-) An electromyogram (EMG) measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction. Nerve conduction studies measure how well and how fast the nerves can send electrical signals. They will compare these to the studies I had done 1 1/2 years ago to see if my muscles are actually weaker or if it's a nerve signal issue.

After these tests, she said I'd probably be sent to physical therapy. She's worried about me falling and urged me to be extra careful until then. She also was concerned that my BP was high. I think it's just the stress over this, but have message in with my primary doctor. Oh & she also asked my primary doctor to up my Effexor. She felt it might help alleviate some of the nerve symptoms. I felt like it was a productive appointment. No real, definite answers but movement in the right direction.