Abstract
Chronic muscle pain affects approximately 10% of the general population. It is unknown whether electromyographic (EMG) examination or muscle biopsy is most useful in this situation. In a 7-year, single-center prospective study we investigated the EMG and muscle pathology characteristics of patients with: (1) diffuse muscle pain lasting >1 year; (2) normal clinical examination; (3) normal extensive blood tests; and (4) no evidence of a coexisting disorder. One hundred eighty consecutive patients were enrolled. In 178 patients (99%), EMG studies and muscle biopsies were normal. In 2 patients (1%), EMG studies demonstrated myotonia, and muscle biopsy showed mild myopathic features; 1 patient had myotonic dystrophy type 2, and the other had SCN4A-related muscle channelopathy. In this prospective study, EMG was an excellent screening test for diagnosing muscle disease in clinically normal patients with chronic diffuse muscle pain, and muscle biopsy was not useful. Muscle Nerve 54: 321-324, 2016.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
