What tests are done to diagnose neuropathy?

When it comes to diagnosing peripheral Neuropathy, you can expect a lot of different kinds of tests to be ordered and performed by your medical team.

The very first test your doctor will begin with is a complete set of blood work.

This way he can look for all kinds of problems including vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, abnormal immune function, poor thyroid function, infections, and other medical conditions.

Your blood can also be used to detect antibodies that can attack peripheral nerve fibers.

Imaging tests like A CT or MRI can be used to look for things like a herniated disc, which could be compressing nerves, tumors or other physical abnormalities.

This may include scans of the brain and spinal cord.

What makes an MRI necessary when detecting neuropathies? Its ability to see vital organs and structures more clearly than X-rays and ultrasound, and can give the doctor a much clearer picture of any internal
damage or abnormalities.

A CT scan, otherwise known as computed tomography, is a specialized x-ray that is used to get a closer look at specific body parts.

Similar in nature to an MRI, CT scans often do not offer the same degree of accuracy.

Nerve Biopsy: when abnormalities are suspected, your doctor may request a nerve biopsy to have a better look.

This involves removing a small section of nerve (usually from the leg) to be studied more closely under a microscope.

To determine if your nerves have sustained any kind of damage, your doctor will need to know how well they function.

This can be done using several different types of nerve function tests:

1. Evoked Potentials Testing: This kind of test shows how well your nerves are functioning.

2. EMG/NCV (electromyography and nerve conduction velocity) Tests: These two tests offer a way to record electrical activity in your muscles to determine the degree of nerve damage to your peripheral nervous system.

3. Autonomic Reflex Tests: This test shows how your autonomic nerve fibers work.

4. Sensory Test: This test uses the senses to see how your nerves react to things like temperature (cold and heat), vibration, and texture.

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