Nerves and muscles are two key body components that work together to allow you to breathe, move, and perform countless other functionalities. Unfortunately, damage to these elements may happen because of disease, injury, or other conditions, resulting in weakness, pain, and loss of function. Thankfully, electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic procedure that measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction. EMG Germantown provides valuable muscle and nerve function information, helping physicians manage various conditions. Here are seven conditions that could be diagnosed with an EMG.
1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common health issue that causes tingling, numbness, and pain in the arm and hand. CTS happens once the median nerve from the hand to the forearm gets compressed at the wrist. EMG helps diagnose CTS by measuring the electrical activity of the wrist and hand muscles. Besides, this procedure can help establish the seriousness of your condition and guide treatment decisions dstvportal.
2. Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage to your nerves, which run from the brain and spinal cord to all other body parts. The telltale symptoms of this condition include burning, pain, tingling, and numbness. Diabetes is the main cause of peripheral neuropathy. Other common causes include nutritional deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, heredity, and tumors. Unfortunately, in most cases, physicians do not know the exact cause, which explains why EMG is crucial. biographyer
3. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
ALS, is a progressive neuromuscular illness, affecting nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. ALS causes muscle weakness, and disability, ultimately resulting in difficulty breathing and speaking, and sometimes paralysis. EMG can help your provider identify ALS by assessing electrical activity in the affected muscles. Moreover, the procedure can track the progression of the condition with time.
4. Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
Muscular dystrophy is a collection of over 30 genetic conditions. This chronic condition affects the skeletal muscles. Common warning signs of muscular dystrophy include loss of movement control and progressive weakness. The most common form of MD develops in children and mainly affects boys. While there is no treatment for muscular dystrophy, your doctor can use EMG to assess the condition and suggest the best care plan.
5. Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
MG is an autoimmune condition that affects the skeletal muscles. The condition results in muscle weakness that worsens with physical activity and improves with rest. Vision problems are also a common warning sign but may also affect breathing, swallowing, chewing, and talking. Most individuals with MG have unusual thymus glands, but specialists do not completely understand the reason, which explains why an EMG is so vital.
6. Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy is an injury to the spinal nerve that causes pinching and compression. Radiculopathy frequently happens in the low back and neck. Common symptoms of radiculopathy include tingling, numbness, weakness, and pain in the arm, leg, low back, or neck. Bone spurs and disc herniations are the most common causes. Your EMG test will determine if your condition requires conservative therapies or more aggressive procedures like surgery.
EMG is a valuable tool for diagnosing and managing various conditions, affecting the muscles and nerves. This diagnostic procedure helps physicians determine the location and degree of muscle and nerve damage, monitor disease progression with time, and guide treatment choices. By providing a comprehensive picture of your muscle and nerve functionality, EMG may help enhance patient outcomes and life quality. Therefore, if you experience any warning signs of muscle or nerve damage, consult your doctor about whether EMG is appropriate for you.
