Skin biopsy not approved yet?
 

Hello all. I have had widespread pain in my sides and stomach for 3 years now. The doctors have ran all kinds of tests and everything comes up "normal". They say I seem to have some sort of neuropathy. They did the test where they run electricity through your arms and legs but was normal. I asked for a skin biopsy that I've read about to help determine demyleniation but they told me it hasn't been approved yet. they quit testing me a year ago and juse keep feeding me meds. Anyone here have a skin biopsy? I take 4800mg of Gabapentin a day yet SSDI says I don't take "pain medication" so i don't qualify for anything. So confused.

I've had several skin biopsies--
 

--at the Cornell Weill Center for Peripheral Neuropathy in New York City; the first was the only one of many hundreds of tests to show that something was actually wrong with my small, unmyelianted fibers that subsume pain and temperature sensation. I've had others as they follow my progress and "healing"--my acute onset, body-wide burning neuropathy was an unusual presentation, so Cornell follows me for research purposed as well.

Do you mean that your insurance won't approve a skin biopsy, or the facility you're going to won't?

There is a newer skin biopsy procedure that IS still considered somewhat experimental that can show demyelination:

http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/...ull/128/5/1168

Still, it may depend on your symptoms. The normal nerve conduction studies you mention imply there is nothing grossly wrong with your larger myelinated nerves, which may provoke some of the reluctance--but a skin biopsy to examine your small-fibers should be something you can get.

Where are you being treated?

A skin biobsy was ordered by my Dr for an ulcer I had in my mouth which "might" help. I do not recommend the nerve biobsy personnally. If he is looking to see if its your immune system/inflammation causing the PN a spinal tap will show a hight protein level. But if your not happy with his decision you have a right to see another doctor or insist it from him.

Lori