How do forms of neuropathy get diagnosed?

@cazzie Would you believe a tuning fork? She hit it on her hand and then held it against various places to see if I could feel it. This was mainly on my feet from complications from a concussion.

I don’t know if this would be the same kind of testing but when I had carpal tunnel syndrome, I went for nerve conduction testing. They put electrodes on my arms and ran current through it to see if I felt it in my fingers. I sure did.

Usually with the use of MRI or CT scan. Is that what you meant?

Yes, CT or MRI imaging, especially if there is trouble with the neck or spine (herniated disks or other issues). Before that, standard blood tests (diabetes, vitamin deficiencies), reflex and sensation testing.

@janbb…I have to do one of those this Saturday. Hopefully, it doesn’t hurt? (The doctor is worried that I have either carpal tunnel or a pinched nerve…

In my experience, they don’t. They just blindly poke around and the tell you to Try Stuff. I think the bottom line is, try to rest the injured part. Leave it limp whenever you can.

For neuropathy in general, I know several people who have had peripheral neuropathy diagnoses from doctors, without working solutions. In all of the cases I’ve seen (which would not apply to everyone), I’d say it has had to do with sitting habits, and one visit to a Feldenkrais practitioner can detect and begin to treat that, if so. The practitioner will know by watching you move, giving instructions, and by touching and feeling the way you use your muscles, etc.

However in the cases I know of, the symptoms were more like loss of feeling, particularly in the feet, and then later pain down there, which seems different though somewhat similar to what you describe.

The symptoms you describe sound more like a recurring injury and wearing out muscles from habitual use, for which I’d also recommend Feldenkrais or acupuncture, and seeing a doctor.

For the same one arm I’ve been diagnosed with an entrapped ulnar nerve, which was then reversed by the next specialist that said that it was not entrapped or damaged nerve and it was probably tendonitis, and yet a 3rd doctor said it was not tendonitis but it was a damaged nerve. Sigh.

I have scar tissue in the spinal canals on the right side of my neck and further down my right arm. I was diagnosed with OOS (Occupational Overuse Syndrome) back in the late 90’s. It wasn’t the operable type because it was my pinkie and elbow that were affected. It was years before I found a good physiotherapist and then an even greater therapeutic massage therapist, but they are, sadly, not in the country I live in now and I haven’t had the resources here for any sort of effective therapy. The nerves to my head are also affected and I’ve suffered from a type of sickening headache, but I don’t get them as often as I used to. Now, lately, in the mornings, I’m getting a horrible ache in my jaw, both upper and lower and now this weird sensation in my fingers on my right hand. I’ve taken some ibuprofin and vitamin B complex and am getting some relief. I’ve been sick with the flu for 4 days, so it could just be that I’m especially run down and not eating the right stuff. Just soup and noodles and tea when I can manage it. I’m just shocked at the painful burning sensation and really thought I had somehow come into contact with a sort of burning chemical, but I know I didn’t. Now it just feels like I smashed them in a door. It is weird and I really hate pain.

When my grandmother was being diagnosed with neuropathy they did some sort of nerve conduction study on her. She said it was rather painful. I once had a nerve test and a muscle test. One was they stick you with a pin and test the electrical impulses, I think that was the nerve one?? Neither test hurt me, just a tiny but of discomfort. I only mention those tests, because I was upset my grandmother let the doctor continue with her test. There was no reason for her to endure the test after she found it to be quite painful, because she already knew she had numbness and pain.

I agree they can do CT or MRI to see if any discs are bulging, that sort of thing. Although, pain above the neck would not be a disc, but I think it can be muscular stemming from neck problems.

You’re already taking the B complex. Obviously, the most worrisome is B12 deficiency as a possible cause if nerve problems. I’m sure your doctor will test your B12 level. I switched to drops recently and my B12 level is better than ever.

My gut feeling (just a gut, no real medical experience or knowledge) is maybe resting the area is worth trying. Obviously, talk to a doctor about it. Don’t lift anything over ten pounds, when you lie down support you neck well, even if it’s just a small rolled up towel behind it. I have read that for carpal tunnel it is recommended to completely rest the wrists for two weeks and see if it helps.

In my own experience with injury. Near total rest of the area has always significantly helped me. I don’t go immobile, I never wanted the muscles to atrophy, but resting always helps me. I’ve found this when I had a lower back injury and a neck and shoulder injury.

However, I can’t compare my specific situations to yours. It might relate it might not.

Is there a chance you have trigeminal neuralgia? Was that ever mentioned? You said headaches, but I am assuming it was not the trigeminal nerve?? That is usually described as face pain not headaches, so I assume no.

Does the nerve pain feel like a pin inside? Like a quick jab from a long pin from the inside out towards your skin? Or, is it pins and needles like your body part is asleep?

I feel for you. Neuropathy and various nerve problems are miserable.

Check sugar levels too. That’s another your doctor would definitely check anyway. And thyroid.

I just threw a lot of thoughts out. Like I said, I don’t know a lot about nerve things. I figured maybe something might make sense or be worth looking into.

Aside from the stuff that MRIs and CAT scans find, most of it is generally the patient telling the doctor what’s up and the doctor using their knowledge to narrow it down from there. Some things there really is no test for. For something like your arm pain, it actually is a bit easier as they do have a test for that, but things like migraines are beyond them, and head/neck injuries tare hit-or-miss.

I didn’t mention MS, but I figure I will, even though I assume you have thought of it. I don’t know all the symptoms of MS, and it sounds like you already have some other more likely explanations from previous diagnosis, but if you haven’t looked up MS symptoms you might want to glance at the list. I remember when I was having a lot of muscle problems people kept suggesting Fibromyalgia, MS or even Parkinsons, but when I looked at the symptom list they just didn’t fit overall. Even a doctor at the time said fibromyalgia, but I disagreed with him. Surprise right? LOL.

I hope you feel better soon.

Ive been tested for Ms and it isn’t that. I have Graves so my thyroid is tested regularly and I take meds to keep my t levels down.

Have you had your B12 tested? Or, do you just take B in general, because you think it is a good idea? I know Japan has raised their minimum for the blood levels to 500 (I don’t know the units) while America is still using around 200 with a caution statingbthat some people between 200 and 400 are symptomatic. I don’t know what parts of Europe are using as their normal range.

I don’t think B12 is likely the problem, but anything that might be contributing is obviusly worth addressing.

@JLeslie B12 fluctuates massively depending on diet and stress. Unless someone is eating consistently the same food (which I do not) there is absolutely no point in testing me, unless a chronic condition is being tested for at the same time, in which case, liver enzymes would be taken as well. I know I haven’t been eating right lately, as I said, I’ve been sick. I take extra B’s only when I feel I need it. Since I was diagnosed with Graves, I know my body needs it more and I know the feeling when I need it in pill form. I never eat white bread. I try to eat eggs at least once a week. I rarely eat red meat. Fresh green veggies have been horribly absent in my diet. This pinched nerve thing has been a chronic, physical problem for me since 1989.

@cazzie That’s interesting. I didn’t realize it fluctuates so much. My tests have been fairly consistent. Usually around 500 when I was taking a pill supplement. Always 300–400 when not taking the pill or taking it very infrequently.

I don’t see any big change taking B12 like I do when I get other vitamins and minerals up into the normal ranges after being low, but the others are not water soluble vitamins.

Now that I had that high number, 800, I’m curious to see if I do feel much better over a few months, not that I read I never previously really tested much into the normal range according to the new parameters for some countries.

Like with vitamin D, if I’m at 17 or 25 I still have serious problems, I need to get up around 35 to start feeling better.

My husband has neuropathy and his testing involved Electromyography (EMG), MRI (to rule out MS – you’d see brain lesions) and blood work. No CT.

Neuropathy is sort of a spectrum.. you could end up with pain and tingling, loss of sensation – it’s a wide gamut of issues..some stress induced, some auto-immune disease caused..and in the case of my yoga teacher, she now has neuropathy (cannot feel her feet) as a side effect of her Chemo treatments during treatment for her breast cancer.

Vitamins don’t cure neuropathy. Reduction of stress can help – if that’s the source.. but sometimes it’s like a lightswitch. Once you’ve had the stressor and the neuropathy starts..it never fully goes away.

See an internist. Get the right testing. It’s not unusual and they’ll figure out the source.

(p.s. Google EMG so you know what to expect. It can be uncomfortable. I had EMG and it didn’t bother me at all. My husband found it very painful.)