L&I Consultations & EMG in Edmonds, WA
EMG and nerve conduction testing for injured workers, usually within a week, plus consultation on the cases that have stopped making sense
EMG First, Usually Within a Week
EMG is the main thing I do for injured workers. I am board certified in electrodiagnostic medicine by both the ABPMR and the AANEM, I perform over forty studies a month, and providers refer to me from across the Puget Sound region. L&I referrals for EMG are always accepted and studies are typically scheduled within a week.
Less often, I also consult. Some claims move in a straight line from injury to recovery. Others loop: treatment after treatment, imaging that explains nothing, a patient and a doctor both running out of ideas. Those are the cases I like best, the clinical mysteries caught in a loop of failed care, and on those I am glad to give an opinion. But I am a consultant, not an attending provider. I do not take over claims. I bring nerve testing, a fresh diagnostic evaluation, and targeted procedures, and then I hand the findings back.
Electrodiagnostics (EMG/NCS)
Objective nerve testing performed and interpreted in the office, producing measurable data a claim can rely on. EMG referrals for L&I patients are always accepted.
Diagnostic Consultation
A fresh, hour-long evaluation of a stalled case: what the imaging does and does not explain, which pain generators were missed, and what would get rehab moving again.
Targeted Procedures
Trigger point injections with hydrostatic IMS and sacroiliac joint injections to release the protective guarding that keeps therapy from taking hold.
How a Consultation Works
In the L&I system your attending provider directs the claim. A consultation adds a second set of trained eyes without changing who is in charge.
Your provider sends the referral
Consultations and EMG referrals come from the provider managing your claim, whether that is a family physician, a chiropractor, or another specialist. If you are the one feeling stuck, ask your provider about a physiatry consultation.
A full hour of evaluation
New consultations and EMG studies are scheduled for an hour: enough time to retake the history, examine carefully, and look for what stalled cases usually hide, such as unrecognized nerve involvement, untreated myofascial pain generators, or a nervous system stuck in protection.
Objective answers where they exist
When nerve injury is in question, EMG and nerve conduction testing settles it with measurable data, in either direction. A normal study is just as useful as an abnormal one: it redirects care away from a dead end.
Findings go back to your doctor
Your attending provider stays in charge of the claim, the restrictions, and the return-to-work plan. What they receive is a clear diagnostic picture and concrete recommendations, with targeted procedures performed here when they would help recovery take hold.
When Work Injuries Involve Nerves
Some of the most commonly disputed work injuries are nerve conditions, precisely because they are invisible on X-rays and easy to question. Electrodiagnostic testing changes that.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive hand-intensive work
- Radiculopathy from lifting injuries, with pain radiating into an arm or leg
- Ulnar neuropathy from sustained elbow pressure or vibration
- Peroneal and other compression neuropathies from kneeling and crouching trades
Dr. Franke is board-certified in electrodiagnostic medicine and performs EMG and nerve conduction studies in the office. When nerve injury is present, the study documents it objectively. When it is not, that answer redirects treatment toward the real pain generator.
When Recovery Stalls
When months of treatment have not moved the needle, the usual culprit is an incomplete diagnosis: an untreated pain generator, unrecognized nerve involvement, or a nervous system stuck in a protective pattern. A fresh physiatric evaluation frequently identifies what was missed. Read about why recovery stalls →
Common Work Injuries We Treat
Physical work injures predictable structures. Each condition below is covered in depth on its own page.
Neck & Back Injuries
Lifting injuries, strains from awkward positions, and cumulative spinal load from years of physical work.
Neck & back pain →Nerve Conditions
Carpal tunnel, radiculopathy, and compression neuropathies, diagnosed objectively with in-office EMG testing.
Nerve pain & radiculopathy →Myofascial Pain
Deep muscle pain and trigger points from overexertion that persist long after the original strain should have healed.
Myofascial pain →Joint Injuries
Shoulders, knees, and elbows worn down or acutely injured by the physical demands of the job.
Joint pain & stiffness →Motor Vehicle Injuries on the Job
Crashes while driving for work fall under L&I rather than PIP, with the same whiplash and concussion patterns.
Car accident care →Stress Responses to Injury
A serious work injury affects more than tissue. Sleep, mood, and a nervous system on high alert are part of recovery too.
Nervous system recovery →Common Questions About L&I Care
Is Dr. Franke an attending provider for L&I claims?
No. Dr. Franke works as a consultant. Your attending provider continues to direct the claim, certify time-loss, and manage work restrictions. His role is EMG testing, diagnostic consultation, and targeted procedures requested by your provider.
How do I get a consultation or EMG if my claim feels stuck?
Ask your attending provider for a referral. Providers can send consultation and EMG referrals directly to the office, and EMG referrals for L&I patients are always accepted.
Is a consultation the same as an IME?
No. An independent medical examination is arranged by L&I or a self-insured employer to evaluate the claim itself. A consultation is part of your treatment: your own provider requests it, and its goal is getting your recovery moving.
Does L&I cover consultations, EMG testing, and procedures?
Yes, when medically indicated under an allowed claim. L&I or your employer's self-insured program pays for covered care with no copays or deductibles.
What procedures does Dr. Franke perform for work injuries?
Most commonly trigger point injections with intramuscular stimulation (hydrostatic IMS) and sacroiliac joint injections, with a range of other targeted injections when indicated. Procedures are chosen to release protective muscle guarding so rehabilitation can take hold.
Clarity, Not Fear
Most people arrive at a nerve test braced for bad news. That is not what this is for.
An EMG answers a question, and the answer is useful in either direction. A normal study is not a wasted study. It rules out nerve damage, which means the pain has another source, and it redirects care away from a dead end you might otherwise have spent months in.
When a study is abnormal, it tells us which nerve, where along its course, how severe, and how old. That is not a verdict. It is a map, and it is what makes targeted treatment possible instead of guessing.
I explain findings the same day, in plain language, sitting down. My job is to tell you what is happening in a way that helps you decide what to do next, not in a way that frightens you. People walk out of this office understanding their own nervous system better than when they walked in, and a surprising number of them walk out relieved.
Get Your Recovery Back on Track
If your claim has been open for months and the plan has stopped working, a consultation may find what was missed. Ask your attending provider for a referral, or have their office contact us at (425) 678-2044. EMG referrals for L&I patients are always accepted.