7 Ways to Diagnose Peripheral Nueropathy You Need to Know

KOMPAS.com – It is important for peripheral neuropathy to be diagnosed at an early stage to prevent disease severity.

Prof. Rainer Freynhagen, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine at Benedictus Tutzing & Feldafing Hospital Germany said that peripheral neuropathy is very common in society.

“Doctors around the world see millions of patients suffering from these conditions every day,” said Prof. Freynhagen at the “Demystifying Neuropathy Forum” on Friday (19/5/2023).

Also read: Get to know what Peripheral Neuropathy is, its causes and signs

Dr. Satish V Khadilkar, Professor and Head of the Department of Neurology at Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences in Mumbai, India, said that peripheral neuropathy can cause some significant co-morbidities, if not diagnosed and treated at an early stage.

“This includes depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety which also require treatment and add to the economic burden on patients,” said Dr. Khadilkar.

Thus, it is very important to get peripheral neuropathy diagnosed and treated at an early stage.

This article will further briefly review the various ways that can be done to diagnose neuropathy in your peripheral nerves.

Also read: Be Aware of Diabetes Main Risk Factor for Peripheral Neuropathy

How to diagnose peripheral neuropathy?

Diagnosing peripheral neuropathy usually involves a combination of methods.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic and NYU Langone Health, the following types of examinations and tests can be done by doctors as a way to diagnose peripheral neuropathy:

• Complete medical history check: your doctor will review your medical history, including your symptoms, lifestyle, exposure to toxins, alcohol consumption, and any family history of diseases related to the nervous system.
• Neurological exam: your doctor may check your tendon reflexes, your muscle strength and tone, your ability to feel certain sensations, and your posture and coordination.
• Blood tests: these can detect vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, abnormal immune function, and other indications of conditions that can be a cause of peripheral neuropathy.
• Imaging tests: CT or MRI scans are used to create computerized, three-dimensional pictures of conditions inside the body. This can look for medical conditions that are the cause of peripheral neuropathy, such as a herniated disc, pinched (compressed) nerves, tumors, or other disorders that affect blood vessels and bones.
• Electromyography: this test records the electrical activity in your muscles to detect nerve damage. Thin needles (electrodes) are inserted into the muscle to measure the electrical activity when you make contact with the muscle.
• Nerve biopsy: removal of a small portion of a nerve, usually a sensory nerve, to look for abnormalities that may be causing peripheral nerve damage.
• Skin biopsy: removal of a small piece of skin that can help a doctor identify whether a nerve is damaged, causing sensory loss.

Early diagnosis and treatment offer the best chance of controlling your symptoms and preventing further damage to your peripheral nerves.

If you are diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, your doctor can treat you with a number of prescription medications and recommend therapy or surgery.

Also read: Signs of Peripheral Neuropathy in Diabetics

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