Your nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) and nerves (peripheral nervous system). Diagnosing your back pain involves taking a look at your nervous system, the most complicated system in the body.

If we just adjust your Ionphontophoretic stabilizer, we’ll fix you right up!”īut of course, it’s not that easy. I wish I was like Bones McKinney on Star Trek, and could wave a simple gadget over your body to know “Aha!. But nerve biopsies are rarely needed.People who have come to see me with bad back pain sometimes ask “Why do I have to do so many tests?!” That’s a fair question. It's then checked for changes that could be a sign of certain types of peripheral neuropathy. This is a minor surgical procedure where a small sample of a peripheral nerve is removed from near your ankle so it can be examined under a microscope. Occasionally, a nerve biopsy may be carried out as part of your diagnosis. You may need a lumbar puncture to test a clear, colourless fluid that surrounds and supports the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid) for inflammation. whether you have a genetic abnormality, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.whether you have a rare acquired cause that may be responsible.If the cause is uncertain, you may be referred to a neurologist for more blood tests to check: If you're taking a medicine known to cause peripheral neuropathy, the GP may temporarily stop or reduce your dose to see whether your symptoms improve. If diabetes is suspected, they can usually make a confident diagnosis based on your symptoms, a physical examination, and checking the levels of sugar in your blood and urine. The GP can usually identify the underlying cause of a peripheral neuropathy. NCS and EMG are usually carried out at the same time. electromyography (EMG), where a small needle is inserted through your skin into your muscle and used to measure the electrical activity of your muscles.a nerve conduction test (NCS), where small metal wires called electrodes are placed on your skin that release tiny electric shocks to stimulate your nerves the speed and strength of the nerve signal is measured.Some people may need to see a neurologist, a specialist in health conditions affecting the nervous system, in hospital for further tests. The GP may also arrange blood tests, especially to check for causes such as diabetes or vitamin B12 deficiency. This may involve testing sensation, strength and reflexes. When you see a GP, they'll ask about your symptoms and examine the affected area of your body. A number of tests may be used to diagnose peripheral neuropathy and its underlying cause.

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