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02-18-2014, 05:18 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 600
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EMG,carpal tunnel, and lymphedema risks
I was at a neurosurgeon's office yesterday and he recommended an EMG to determine if some of the problems are being caused by a carpal tunnel issue. After my mastectomy I developed lymphedema but with help of a great therapist I got it under control. Recently I have been going to therapy for my neck and shoulder. It appears that I am still having minor issues with lymphedema. I called today to ask if there was a risk of increasing or triggering lymphedema in that arm from the EMG since it involves needles. The person I talked with told me that I would need to discuss it with the neurologist who would conduct the EMG. She also told me that the neurosurgeon wanted me to know that if I chose not to have this test then there was nothing he could do for me. Then she told me that she detected some mistrust. I am not sure if this was coming from the doctor or from her. I ask questions. I will always ask questions. And this was the first time I had met him. I guess I am questioning his decision to order a test when he wasn't sure if it would affect my arm negatively. He also wants me to wear a brace for six weeks. I am going to try but anything the least bit snug, even a sleeve bothers me.
After some research it seems that I should be able to have the test. I hope to hear from the neurologist tomorrow. I also discovered in my reading that women who have had a mastectomy are at higher risk of developing carpal tunnel and that aromatase inhibitors (Arimidex was specifically mentioned) also increase the risks. Has as anyone else had an EMG conducted on their affected arm?i am also worrying about the possibility of surgery but I may be borrowing trouble. I would love to hear from as someone who has dealt with this.
__________________
In the world of destiny, there are no statistics.
Jan. 26- mammogram and ultrasound- suspicious lump
Mid-February- lumpectomy, infiltrating ductal carcinoma ~4.5 cm and a 1 cm DCIS, did not get clear margins, did not check lymph nodes
ER+/PR+, her2 +++, nuclear grade 3 of 3
February 20-PET scan showed something on liver. No biopsy.
March- Started carboplatin, herceptin, taxol on a four week cycle
May 3- Pet scan, with intent to do a biopsy, found nothing, liver or breast- no biopsy because there is nothing to biopsy
June 21- new onc, very concerned that there had been no biopsy,
June 18th-CAT scan, bone scan-negative
August 7th - Brain MRI-negative
August 9th- mastectomy, all pathology negative
January 2008 still NED! New oncologist -herceptin for full year after chemo- until July, and tamoxifen---negative scans since May '07
July 2008-Finished Herceptin!
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02-18-2014, 06:21 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 645
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Re: EMG,carpal tunnel, and lymphedema risks
I've never had an EMG on my "bad" side but I definitely can understand your reluctance.
I'd check with the administering doctor and let him do some research, too.
Good luck
Janis
__________________
March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a
June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010)
Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70%
BRCA 1 and 2 negative
October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement
Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB
Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks.
March 14, 2013: Finished chemo
April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x
May 22, 2013: Finished rads
June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs.
July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life
October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery
October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin
December 5, 2013: Port removed
Glad this year is over!
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02-18-2014, 07:36 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 600
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Re: EMG,carpal tunnel, and lymphedema risks
Thanks, Jaykay.
__________________
In the world of destiny, there are no statistics.
Jan. 26- mammogram and ultrasound- suspicious lump
Mid-February- lumpectomy, infiltrating ductal carcinoma ~4.5 cm and a 1 cm DCIS, did not get clear margins, did not check lymph nodes
ER+/PR+, her2 +++, nuclear grade 3 of 3
February 20-PET scan showed something on liver. No biopsy.
March- Started carboplatin, herceptin, taxol on a four week cycle
May 3- Pet scan, with intent to do a biopsy, found nothing, liver or breast- no biopsy because there is nothing to biopsy
June 21- new onc, very concerned that there had been no biopsy,
June 18th-CAT scan, bone scan-negative
August 7th - Brain MRI-negative
August 9th- mastectomy, all pathology negative
January 2008 still NED! New oncologist -herceptin for full year after chemo- until July, and tamoxifen---negative scans since May '07
July 2008-Finished Herceptin!
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02-22-2014, 07:28 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 600
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Re: EMG,carpal tunnel, and lymphedema risks
Update. The neurologist has decided to do thectests without needles. One less thing to worry about. I have figured out that The physical therapy I have been getting for my neck, shoulder, and arm has caused my lymphedema to flair up.
__________________
In the world of destiny, there are no statistics.
Jan. 26- mammogram and ultrasound- suspicious lump
Mid-February- lumpectomy, infiltrating ductal carcinoma ~4.5 cm and a 1 cm DCIS, did not get clear margins, did not check lymph nodes
ER+/PR+, her2 +++, nuclear grade 3 of 3
February 20-PET scan showed something on liver. No biopsy.
March- Started carboplatin, herceptin, taxol on a four week cycle
May 3- Pet scan, with intent to do a biopsy, found nothing, liver or breast- no biopsy because there is nothing to biopsy
June 21- new onc, very concerned that there had been no biopsy,
June 18th-CAT scan, bone scan-negative
August 7th - Brain MRI-negative
August 9th- mastectomy, all pathology negative
January 2008 still NED! New oncologist -herceptin for full year after chemo- until July, and tamoxifen---negative scans since May '07
July 2008-Finished Herceptin!
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