Peripheral Neuropathy

Ohio State’s Peripheral Neuropathy Clinic has nine neurologists board-certified and fellowship-trained in neuromuscular diseases, including three who subspecialize in peripheral neuropathy.

Appointments: 614-293-4969

Your peripheral nerves are the ones outside your brain and spinal cord. Like static on a telephone line, peripheral nerve disorders distort or interrupt the messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

There are more than 100 kinds of peripheral nerve disorders. They can affect one nerve or many nerves. Some are the result of other diseases, like diabetic nerve problems. Others, like Guillain-Barre syndrome, happen after a virus infection. Still others are from nerve compression, like carpal tunnel syndrome or thoracic outlet syndrome. In some cases, like complex regional pain syndrome and brachial plexus injuries, the problem begins after an injury. Some people are born with peripheral nerve disorders.

Symptoms often start gradually and then get worse. They include:

  • Numbness
  • Pain
  • Burning or tingling
  • Muscle weakness
  • Sensitivity to touch

Treatment aims to resolve any underlying problem, reduce pain and control symptoms.

Why choose Ohio State for treatment of peripheral neuropathy?

Diagnostic Expertise: Our Peripheral Neuropathy Clinic at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center has nine neurologists board-certified and fellowship-trained in neuromuscular diseases, including three who subspecialize in peripheral neuropathy.

As one of the largest neuromuscular centers in the country, we see all major categories of neuromuscular disease. Our broad range of experience helps ensure that if you have an uncommon or complicated condition, we can provide the answers and the care you need.

Chemotherapy-Related Neuropathy: People suffering from cancer often must undergo chemotherapy that can damage nerve endings. This can result in pain and disability. Our neuromuscular physicians are partnering with the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute to develop a clinic and research program designed to treat patients with neuropathies related to cancer or cancer therapy.

Research: To enhance our treatment of peripheral neuropathy, our neuromuscular diseases team conducts investigations and studies of the latest procedures and treatments. We participate in the Peripheral Neuropathy Study Group, a national network of medical centers that allows our patients access to the country’s most current clinical trials. Additionally, international collaborations give us more access to new ideas and cutting-edge work in these disorders.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy can be difficult to diagnose. In almost 50 percent of neuropathy cases, a cause cannot be found. This can be reduced to about one-third at a center such as Ohio State, where the expertise and focus of our physicians mean that your testing will be accurately and appropriately performed and interpreted. This results in less testing and better information.

We will give you the best possible understanding of your neuropathy through a thorough history and physical and state-of-the-art tools and testing. Our diagnostic tests include:

  • Electrodiagnostic tests, including electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS)
  • Blood tests
  • Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
  • Nerve function tests
  • Muscle strength tests
  • Sensory tests
  • Nerve biopsy
  • Diagnostic skin biopsy, a highly specialized test to evaluate whether you have a certain type of neuropathy  
  • Imaging tests (magnetic resonance imaging/MRI, computed tomography/CT)

About half of neuropathy disorders have a genetic basis, such as the group of hereditary neuropathies known as Charcot Marie Tooth disorders. New technology allows us to test multiple genes at one time, and we are now able to make a genetic diagnosis for many more persons with hereditary neuropathy.

Our Providers

Additional Information

Please bring to your first appointment all records, written reports and lab results from neurologists or referring physicians, as well as a CD of MRI and other imaging results. Also prepare a written family history of neurological diseases for our discussion during your visit.

Preparing for your visit

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