Diagnosing Peripheral Neuropathy
This overview explains our diagnostic process to help you understand what to expect as you go through the early steps of your care.
An accurate diagnosis is critical for your treatment plan. It helps us recommend the most effective treatment options for you, in the right sequence.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT DIAGNOSING PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
1Getting Started In Your Care
2Getting Your Diagnosis
Consultation & Testing: What to Expect »
3Planning Your Treatment
4Undergoing Treatment & Follow-Up
Select your type of treatment below.
For everyone who comes to us, we start your care by establishing or confirming a diagnosis.
First Visit
Consultation
Test Results
Complex Cases
We collect your previous test reports and other medical records. We may need your help to do so, in case you need to sign a release form with your doctor.
a. Our goal is to review them before we meet with you so that we understand your unique case. Knowing the details of any previous diagnoses and treatments helps us provide the best possible care for you.
b. When you schedule your first appointment, our patient coordinators will contact your primary care physician and any other doctors to gather your medical records. We may need your help to do so, in case you need to sign a release form with your doctor. If we cannot obtain them in time, we may need to reschedule your appointment. You can speak with your patient coordinator or your doctor for more details.
c. Some types of medical records that you should keep include:
- Pathology reports from any biopsies or surgeries
- Imaging test results, either on paper or stored on a DVD (although imaging and laboratory tests are not needed for most skin melanomas)
- Operative reports from any surgeries
- List of medications, doses, and how long you took them
- Discharge summary if you had a hospital stay
- Contact information for health care providers who treated you for cancer
a. After this testing, it typically takes a few days to 1 weeks to review the results and confirm your diagnosis. Getting your test results can take time because your care team is working hard to determine an accurate diagnosis for you.
b. Many health care professionals collaborate in the process and provide expert analysis.
Stanford experts from several specialties meet as a team. Based on the diagnosis, we determine our recommendations for the best sequence of treatment for each patient.
Together, you and your doctors decide on the treatment options that are right for you.
We collect your previous test reports and other medical records. We may need your help to do so, in case you need to sign a release form with your doctor.
a. Our goal is to review them before we meet with you so that we understand your unique case. Knowing the details of any previous diagnoses and treatments helps us provide the best possible care for you.
b. When you schedule your first appointment, our patient coordinators will contact your primary care physician and any other doctors to gather your medical records. We may need your help to do so, in case you need to sign a release form with your doctor. If we cannot obtain them in time, we may need to reschedule your appointment. You can speak with your patient coordinator or your doctor for more details.
c. Some types of medical records that you should keep include:
- Pathology reports from any biopsies or surgeries
- Imaging test results, either on paper or stored on a DVD (although imaging and laboratory tests are not needed for most skin melanomas)
- Operative reports from any surgeries
- List of medications, doses, and how long you took them
- Discharge summary if you had a hospital stay
- Contact information for health care providers who treated you for cancer
close First Visit
a. After this testing, it typically takes a few days to 1 weeks to review the results and confirm your diagnosis. Getting your test results can take time because your care team is working hard to determine an accurate diagnosis for you.
b. Many health care professionals collaborate in the process and provide expert analysis.
close Test Results
Stanford experts from several specialties meet as a team. Based on the diagnosis, we determine our recommendations for the best sequence of treatment for each patient.
Together, you and your doctors decide on the treatment options that are right for you.
close Complex Cases
At Stanford, we tailor the diagnostic phase of Neuropathy care to each patient. If you need further testing to complete your diagnosis, your doctor and care team will work with you to determine which tests you need. Tests may include:
- Neuropathy Lab Tests (Blood Draws)
Blood tests may be recommended if certain vitamin deficiencies are suspected as a potential cause for the neuropathy. - Neuropathy Imaging (Radiology)
To obtain the most precise understanding of your neuropathy, your doctor may schedule you for different types of imaging tests that look for abnormalities that may be compressing a nerve. If you have been screened elsewhere and received abnormal results, we may perform additional imaging, if needed. - Nerve Conduction Study (Neurology)
Your doctor may recommend this study to evaluate how well your nerves carry instructions to your muscles and your ability to sense heat, cold, or touch. - Nerve Biopsy (Pathology)
In rarer cases, doctors may sample tissue from a nerve to fully examine it under a microscope.