Interview

• Your doctor will first conduct an interview to obtain what your symptoms are. Most people who are experiencing neuropathy have pain that radiates through an extremity. This pain can be in one area such as the wrist, as is common with carpal tunnel syndrome, or it may be felt in a broader area. Pain along your entire left leg, for instance, may result from a herniated disc in your spine. Your doctor needs to know how long the symptoms have been occurring and what the level of pain has been. While some people experience severe pain, others only describe the problem as if the muscle fell asleep and is tingling and numb.
  
  In addition, your doctor will review your medical history to determine if neuropathy is related to another medical condition such as diabetes, cancer or stenosis.
  
  

Imaging

• Imaging tests are an effective way to determine what is going on with soft tissue within your body. An MRI will most often be used when diagnosing neuropoathy, although an X-ray or CT scan may also be ordered. The MRI shows the nerve and surrounding tissue, allowing the doctor to see if there is a mass of any sort pushing against the nerve or if something is out of line with the skeletal bones. Tumors, herniations and abnormal nerve development are seen in MRI images.
  
  

Blood Work

• If your imaging does not clearly diagnose the problem, then your doctor may seek a full blood workup. This is to look for deficiencies in B12 vitamins that are required for proper nerve health. It is also to look for signals of cancer or viral infections such as HIV that may be damaging the nerves. Your doctor also needs to eliminate possible poisoning, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.
  
  

Nerve Conduction

• If your doctor suspects long-term damage to the nerve or necrosis of the nerve, then the next action is to determine the extent of the damage. A test for nerve conduction velocity (NCV) is done to see how your nerves are sending impulses. This test is done with your arms attached to receptors while your skin receives mild electric shocks in certain areas. The receptors time how fast the nerve is sending a signal. The NCV test is followed by an electromyography (EMG) test where the muscles are stimulated with a needle (similar to those used in acupuncture) to determine what nerves and muscles are affected by nerve damage sending information to motor neurons.
  
  

Post-Diagnosis

• Some of these tests are used primarily for diagnosis and others are used to determine actual damage. Most people receive an accurate diagnosis from medical history and imaging. If you are concerned about loss of sensation in your arms, legs, bowels or bladder, you should consult your doctor immediately. Nerve problems will only get worse if you do not deal with the underlying problem and treat it. Depending on the diagnosis, the treatment may involve removing a herniation, treating cancer or maintaining proper insulin levels for diabetics.