I’ve heard to stay away from them if at all possible. There have been some previous posts on the subject i believe

good luck

It depends on why you are getting the biopsy done.

I had it done it can be very painful and then that part of your leg is numb forever.

For me it proved that I had both demylation and remylation happening.

This information was used when applying for disability.

Good luck,

According to Yue and Han it depends-

1. Who is doing it?- as in are they really competent?

2. Who will interpret the results?- ditto #1.

3. Is it a sural (in, or near, your foot or ankle) biopsy? Then it likely is not very helpful and equally, or more likely to leave you with some long lasting, or even permanent damage.

4. I would not have a ‘definitive’ diagnosis without the special nerve biopsy I had in my upper right arm.

5. Yes, my procedure was “out-patient’. I was discharged within 24 hours, yet spent the night in a recovery room. I was required to do several things prior to discharge. Walk un-assisted for one.

6. The hours, days and weeks following could be described as miserable.

7. I have no lasting effects following the procedure which was done about 22 months ago.

And, I agree with the assessment that searching, and finding, any particular subject on this forum is difficult.

Oh, my, how is it done? Dunno, they put me to sleep! They cut you open, then find the nerve bundle. They ‘teased’ apart the fibers and removed some of them. I like to picture a big (and old fashioned) telephone cable bundle. Cut out a few, who knows….

After the fibers are removed, and properly handled they are analyzed.

My surgical scar, if I could find it still, which I cannot, was about 2.5” long. How much nerve or how many nerve fibers- a few. 17 comes to mind. Truth be known, I neither remember, nor care. Everything still works!

[I]marvelous news, Flossie! Thanks for posting it.[/I] 🙂

Hi my 8 year old had one about a year ago. They take it from your ankle just behind the bone. They told us that he may experience a loss of feeling in a very small spot and he does. Its basically a day surgery unless there is other problems. He healed very quickly and now you can barley see any scar. Wish you luck especially if they are using it for a diagnosis.:D

Colleen

I had one at Leeds (UK) some 9 years ago. The surgeon talked me through it somewhat like a sporting running commentary. He semi-screened me so that I could not see the worst. It was not as bad as that as I had a local jab.
No after effects.

It appeared to confirm CIDP after some mystery. After very bad side-effects from steroids it was realised that I had PDN (advert-see my web site) which is CIDP related but different.

I had a nerve biopsy in June 2005 I am still in a lot of pain because of it. I wish I never had it done.

Sue

Hi Helen No I don’t have any other neuro pain. When I told my Dr about it she said oh that’s your tendon. But it was right next to the tendon that I had the biopsy done. Also I still get the nerve pain in my foot and ankle do to the biopsy. So I am not sure why it is taking so long to heal. On the outside it looks not bad. I still see the scar. But it is on the inside and standing on cement floors everyday I am sure does not help.

It did not reveal anything.

Sue

Helen,

I have had it done twice without any problems. As with any procedure there is a chance for problems post. I was very worried before my first, it’s pretty natural. If done correctly it wasn’t that bad. Now mention a spinal tap and I curl up in a ball and want to cry 🙂

Jerimy

Best of luck Helen.
Lucky for me I had no problem with the spinal tap except for bruise feeling I had the next day.

Sue

Question ~ why is a nerve biopsy done? It can only tell you the state of that particular nerve. And we do know that not all nerves of the body are affected equally. What if the nerve they take wasn’t an affected one and now you have pain where there wasn’t before? Thanks for any answers.

Good luck with that Helen, you will be in my thoughts.

Jerimy

Glad it went well and is over now Helen.

Jerimy