Reply To: Nerve Biopsy

Anonymous
February 23, 2012 at 10:58 pm

I had a nerve/muscle biopsy done and it provided the final piece of the puzzle. “Back in the Day” they took a piece of the nerve that goes from the lower calf to the ankle. They also took a piece of muscle with it. I had a good surgeon, in and out, sewed up tight. No fuss, no muss, no hassle. They look at the tissue for demyelination and remyelination, and well as other stuff. In my case, the information provided my Doc to eliminate the last few things and get me a diagnosis of CIDP.
Now they talk of the skin/punch biopsy or whatever that is. I would presume the result is the same, get some tissue and figure out what is happening to you.
Without knowing what else they have done in an attempt to diagnose you, this CAN be conclusive. I had so many other things eliminated before they did the invasive test (biopsy), the only way they could accurately complete the diagnosis was to get more information.
After a firm diagnosis, you have something to get your head around and the Doc’s can treat you a little more clearly. One of the hardest part of CIDP was the five or six years it took to get a diagnosis and understand what I have and how to deal with it.
Good luck, I hope you get some answers.
Dick S