Neurologist Appointment | Arthritis Information

I had my appointment with the neurologist today. The assistant (an intern) did the exam and she was more thorough this time, checking my eyes and strength besides the usual having me walk and pinprick tests.

The neuro thinks the inflammation is not under control and that I have pleurisy as well. Basically more inflammation. He wants to increase the immuran to 150 mg and prednisone to 10 mg. He orderd an emg/ncv of my hands and said if those were abnormal we would need to treat more agressively than increasing the current meds. He wants to talk to my rheum first though so I have to wait to find out.

Also ordered a bone scan because I have been on the prednisone so long. No explanation really on the twitching, red hands, and no sweating issues. He said there could be several causes. He spent a lot of time talking with me and listening to my concerns, especially about my hands so I was pleased with that. And said he would consult with the rheum and then get back to me.

My emg/ncv was normal The only negative was that I did not see him after the emg and I am still not clear on how I can have so much sensory loss and normal emg/ncv for my hands. The assistant said it is from the vasculitis and raynauds.

Oh and the assistant accidentally stuck a needle all the way through my hand. Really painful. Made me forget about all the other pain! LOL! I am really hoping they increase the immuran as I seem to tolerate it well and it has helped some. Bummed about the prednisone though. I want so much to get off it.

Laker

Laker39188.7252662037Laker, that sounds like an appointment that you survive. It's a lot to take in just reading about it. I had the same results as you on the emg/ncv and was basically given the same kind of answer, only what you learned helps me understand what's happening a bit better. We seem to be in the same boat here.

It is very good that the doctors are going to talk to each other. Hopefully, they will come up with a strategy to help you get this back under control.

My thoughts are with you.
[QUOTE=Laker][Oh and the assistant accidentally stuck a needle all the way
through my hand. Really painful. Made me forget about all the other pain!
LOL!

Laker

[/QUOTE]

WHAT???????????? The assistant stuck a needle all the way through your
hand? OMG. How do you do that?

Lorster,

She was doing the emg/ncv-the part where they use the skinny needle and was having trouble getting it so she wiggled it around and it went right through the fleshy part of my hand between the thumb and first finger. And on an angle at that. Must have been a long needle! I said "oh that really hurts-it feels like it went right through my hand". She looked and said "opps! I'm so sorry". My husband says at least I may have more feeling in that hand than I thought. I offered to shove a needle through his hand to make sure he has feeling in it. He declined!

Laker

Whew what a day you had! In a way it is good the test results were normal. At least you know you don't have carpal tunnel. Just have to figure out why your hands are the way they are. Please keep us posted on that.

A needle all the way thru your hand? Yeeeeeeeeouch! Someone woulda gotten hurt lol. I'M KIDDING PEOPLE!! I would have been very upset. I had the same tests as you only mine was for my foot and they shoved that long skinny needle in my back, hips, various places on my thigh, calves, and finally my foot.

My tremors in my hands are from my meds and they are active tremors. Only happen when I have to use my hands. Did they say anything about the no sweating thing? Are they going to have you see an endocrinologist for that?

Oh may, thats crazy! I think I would have hurt someone as well if they stick that needle all the way through my hands. My emg/needle test was no picnic either but you win for sure!

I have just the opposite problem with the sweating, I sweat horribly. I end up changing my blouse half way through the day! It could be 20 degrees below out and the sweat rolls off me. Odd.

The doctor said the no sweating may be part of the neuropathy but that he is more concerned about the inflammation. He looked at my lab results and I wish I had asked him what the ESR was, I know it was at 80 a while ago. Said the twitching could be from any number of causes too. This is about the third time I have asked about the twitching and I never get a good answer on that one, but maybe there is no clear answer. Micheleb, I think excessive sweating can be related to neuropathy problems too. Have you googled it?

Laker