brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Overview of the Peripheral Nervous System
Diagnosis
A doctor's evaluation Possibly electromyography and nerve conduction studies, imaging tests, or a biopsy For a suspected hereditary neuropathy, genetic testing To diagnose a peripheral nerve disorder, doctors ask people to describe their symptoms, including When the symptoms started Which symptoms appeared first How the symptoms have changed over time Which body parts are affected What relieves and what worsens the symptoms Doctors also ask about possible causes, such as whether people have had any infections or other disorders, whether they may have been exposed to toxins, and whether any family members have had similar symptoms. This information gives doctors clues about the cause of symptoms. A thorough physical and Neurologic Examination can help doctors identify the cause. They evaluate the following: Sensory Nerves —whether people can feel stimuli normally or have any abnormal sensations such as tingling Muscle strength None Reflexes None Cranial Nerves None What doctors find during the examination may suggest possible causes and the tests that need to be done. Tests may include the following: Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies to help doctors determine whether the problem is in the nerves, the neuromuscular junction, or the muscles Imaging tests to check for abnormalities (such as tumors) affecting the cranial nerves or the spinal cord and to rule out other causes of the symptoms A biopsy of muscle and nerve to identify the type of problem (such as whether nerves are demyelinated or inflamed) Genetic testing (blood tests to detect the abnormal gene) if doctors suspect a Hereditary Neuropathies None 