Everything was so fast and I was not prepared to ask questions, but he could be suspecting something terrible or dramatic and didn't want to make assumptions. All my doctors know I do a lot of research online so maybe my neuro told him to watch what he say's. In the begining when my neuro sent me for further testing at an oncology center he very reluctantly told me what he was seeing. (Protien that can indicate myoloma) I made him write it down and he was uncomfortable. (So far that has been stable).

I'm having a flair up right now where my feet feel like they are asleep. There is a definite progression going on. I feel it in my ankles and left calve. I feel I have to know why so I'm leaning toward the biopsy with the repair option. Still open to thoughts. I've searched the boards and there are mixed opinions.......................................... ...

I have had the nerve biopsy you speak of & wouldn't recommend it.
In my case it proved nothing.
It was several years ago but I remember like it was yesterday.
The spinal tap was a pin prick compared to it.
My foot was totally numb from local.
I was laying there with my eyes shut trying to think of something else.
I felt the tug as the surgeon made the incision but couldn't feel him probing round inside.
But when he cut through the nerve I felt a severe electric shock & saw flashes of light.
I also imagined a sound like a high tensile fence wire being cut.

I decided not to...
 

push for this. The neuro specialist at the University that I saw said they rarely have a need for this anymore. The EMG/NCS testing, at least at teaching hospitals with practitioners who know what they are doing, are very diagnostic in terms of nerve damage and type (axonal or demylinating or both.) This is for long nerve fiber damage. Small nerve fiber damage usually can be seen from a skin punch biopsy. What neither one tells you is why the damage is occuring, in many cases. I think that is why people want the biopsy, but I have heard too many times that it is inconclusive. And the numbness it leaves behind, or sometimes pain, may not go away.

I am going to add this story to this thread, because it illustrates a mindset doctors tend to have.

They really like to cut people up and have done so for many decades.

I just ordered this book: Drawing Blood
from http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Blood-...d+keith+wailoo

I got my copy from ebay for much less $$ 1.99.

I thought it would be useful for the rebel in me! If you read that blurb on Amazon, it discusses the POLITICAL aspect to medicine, and how people get "diagnosed" according to the beliefs of the doctor.

Today there are similar things going on in medicine. One just has to know where to look to find them. Ignoring B12 status is one biggy we all see on this forum.

I just met with my GP this morning for routine bloodwork results. I told him about the biopsy and he thinks I should hold off for now. He finally talked me into trying gabapentin at the lowest dose and even though my neurologist says I have to take it consistently, My GP said everyone is different and I can experiment with taking it for just flair ups.

He also suggested that even though my neuro is supposed to be good that I should get a second opinion from another one.

I have read a lot on the threads here going back to 2006 about biopsy's. The one positive I saw was that if you do it , have it done by a skilled surgeon. The neuro surgeon I saw does brain and spinal surgery on a regular basis. So that's why to him a nerve biopsy is routine small stuff. however to me it's big and I won't rush into it.

I also saw that someone here had a trial IVIG treatment that was helpful. I may push for that first. Thanks again everyone.