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Back Pain Test
Reviewed By:
Louise Chang,
SOURCES: Medical Reference from Medstar Television. American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,American Association of Neurological Surgeons, public website, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, North American Spine Society, MedlinePlus.
© 1999-2011 Medstar Television
Ed Grady, Back Pain Patient:
Whew! It feels like a lot of pain.
Narrator:
Ed Grady's had a bad back for years, but never knew the source of his pain.
Ed Grady, Back Pain Patient:
If you're in pain it's gonna affect your mind. You're gonna wonder Oh Lord, am I gonna be paralyzed, am I gonna not be able to walk?
Narrator:
He agreed to take part in a study on an old diagnostic test.
Electromyography (E-LEK-tro-my-AH-gruf-e), or E-M-G, uses small needles to measure muscle activity.
Andrew Haig, MD, Physical Medicine Specialist, University of Michigan:
An EMG turns the key and tests the engine. It tests whether the function of the nerves and muscles is there.
Narrator:
University of Michigan researcher Andrew Haig (HAGE) says the E-M-G, developed in the 40's, can be useful today to pinpoint the cause of back problems.
Andrew Haig, MD, Physical Medicine Specialist, University of Michigan:
We found a way to put a needle into a very little muscle in the back with great accuracy.
And as a result, over the years, we've developed a technique with that needle that helps us to test very little muscles in the back that are specific to particular back problems.
Narrator:
He says more sophisticated tests give too much information. And back pain patients are often told they need surgery.
Andrew Haig, MD, Physical Medicine Specialist, University of Michigan:
A person can have no pain and have an MRI that has lots of changes on it that worry the doctors.
If somebody's gonna try to do an invasive procedure, something where it really matters that you've got the right diagnosis,
like surgery, they really shouldn't count on the MRI alone to show that they have the problem.
Narrator:
An M-R-I showed Ed had the beginnings of spinal stenosis – a narrowing of the spinal canal. But the E-M-G showed a lot of his pain was due to a pinched nerve.
Ed Grady, Back Pain Patient:
The more you can find out about your injury, the better you can deal with it.
Narrator:
And the bigger the chance you'll avoid surgery. For WebMD, I'am Damon Meharg.
