brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Polyneuropathy
Diagnosis of Polyneuropathy
A doctor's evaluation Electromyography and nerve conduction studies Blood and urine tests to determine the cause Doctors usually recognize polyneuropathy by the symptoms. A physical examination can help doctors diagnose polyneuropathy and identify the cause. Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies are usually done, particularly in the legs and feet. These tests may be used to do the following: Confirm that a polyneuropathy is present Determine how severe it is Determine whether motor nerves, sensory nerves, or a combination are involved Determine what type of damage is causing the problem—for example, whether the myelin sheath around nerves is damaged (called Overview of Demyelinating Disorders ) After polyneuropathy is diagnosed, its cause, which may be treatable, must be identified. Doctors ask whether other symptoms are present and how quickly the symptoms developed. This information may suggest possible causes. Blood and urine tests may detect a disorder that is causing polyneuropathy, such as diabetes, kidney failure, or an underactive thyroid gland. Sometimes a nerve or muscle biopsy is necessary. Sometimes polyneuropathy affecting the hands and feet is the first indication that people have diabetes. Sometimes, when extensive testing detects no obvious cause, the cause is a hereditary neuropathy that affects other family members so mildly that the disorder was never suspected. If weakness is widespread and rapidly worsening, doctors do other tests: A Spinal Tap (lumbar puncture) is done to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. If the protein level in the fluid is high and few or no white blood cells are present, the cause may be an autoimmune disorder that causes demyelination, such as Using a Spirometer is done to determine whether the muscles that control breathing are affected. Spirometry is used to measure how much air the lungs can hold as well as how much and how quickly air can be exhaled. 