just had a nerve conduction test done

[zippy28]

hi from steve would like some information please .had a nerve conduction test done last tuesday and awaiting for the doctor to send the results back down to my own doctor to look at them but basically he said ive got what is known on my left side has diabetes neuropathy which i have had very painful needles and pins and my left side going numb from my toes upto my waist and my left arm i also suffer from unstable angina which my heart doctor has always thought these pains on my left side have been but the doctor who did the nerve test said he feels it is the diabetes which has caused the damaged nerves to go weak they have started to effect my balance has well now im only presuming my own doctor will tell me this can be treated any advice off you please to help me see what they can do cheers ..

 

[Yorksman]

I can only comment in a general sense and on non diabetic situations. Nerve damage is often reversible, but it takes time. It has been observed that crush injuries on nerves which have resulted in a loss of function, the bending of an arm or wrist for example have naturally reversed after 6 months to 1 year and the function has been restored. More remarkable is recovery from situations where nerves have been surgically removed. A completely limp arm and wrist for example has recovered after one year to the point where chopsticks could be used. To quote a top neurosurgeon who was working on this case, 'it is as if the impulses have learned to take a different route to achieve the desired effect'. The majority of function has been been within the past couple of months of a 12 month period and progress seems to be at an accelerated pace. The patient has of course put in a good deal of effort though targetted exercises.

You may find the wiki page on general nerve injury interesting, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerve_injury as it will give some background. I'm afraid I know nothing of diabetic neuropathies but there are papers published on the web. There are many types but this particular paper, The Diabetic Neuropathies, Types, Diagnosis and Management, http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/74/suppl_2/ ... &view=FitH states that, in the case of hyperglycaemic neuropathy, "the symptoms, and slowing of nerve conduction, are rapidly reversed by improving glucose control." I don't know if that is what you have but, if you read a little, you can prepare some questions for the doctor. Generally they seem pleasantly surprised when someone does a little homework and asks pertinent questions.

I too have had various tingling feelings and loss of balance which have been ameliorated through stretching and balancing exercises so you don't have to go hammer and tongs on a treadmill. Many people seem to find calf stretching exercises useful for example. A physiotherapist should be able to give you some things to work on.

 

[desidiabulum]

Hi -- I can't advise on anything, but for what it's worth my experience was that at my NCV test, the neurophysiologist who did the test did NOT know a lot about diabetes and just made some initial gut-reaction comments that found their way to the diabetes clinic, which advised that I should get a referral for a full neurological analysis. It has then taken 4 months to get this referral from my GP. It may be that you had the equivalent of a full assessment from someone who really knew their stuff. But the problem so often is one of making sure that the results of tests are communicated promptly to the people who can assess them properly (virtually never a GP!), so that you can end up actually discussing them with someone who can advise you. I would keep asking for a proper referral to a neurologist -- not just getting a test done. Good luck!

 

[zippy28]

Hi -- I can't advise on anything, but for what it's worth my experience was that at my NCV test, the neurophysiologist who did the test did NOT know a lot about diabetes and just made some initial gut-reaction comments that found their way to the diabetes clinic, which advised that I should get a referral for a full neurological analysis. It has then taken 4 months to get this referral from my GP. It may be that you had the equivalent of a full assessment from someone who really knew their stuff. But the problem so often is one of making sure that the results of tests are communicated promptly to the people who can assess them properly (virtually never a GP!), so that you can end up actually discussing them with someone who can advise you. I would keep asking for a proper referral to a neurologist -- not just getting a test done. Good luck!

hi desidiabulum thanks for the info and a freind of mine has said the same has you so im just waiting to hear from the doctor but thanks again from steve.

 

[desidiabulum]

Best of luck steve -- do let us know how you get on.