Nerve Testing for Chronic Foot Pain

What You Need To Know

Understanding peripheral neuropathy, nerve testing, and how we evaluate chronic pain.

Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Testing

Peripheral neuropathy is damage of the peripheral nerves. Your peripheral nerves are the nerves that travel to your arms and legs. When the nerves are damaged, they don’t function properly. People with peripheral neuropathy have decreased or abnormal sensation in their toes and fingers. Sometimes, they develop problems moving these parts of the body as well.

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is a type of nerve damage caused by diabetes which causes numbness, loss of sensation, and sometimes pain in the hands, legs, and feet. According to the American Diabetes Association, 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes will develop neuropathy within their lifetime.

Symptoms vary depending on severity. Milder cases may feel an occasional tingling, often at night. This may be accompanied by burning or shooting pains in the feet and numbness in the toes. Pain tends to decrease as the condition progresses, replaced more and more with numbness. Loss of sensation can cause balance problems and prevent the detection of wounds and sores.

In the United States, the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes. Other causes include certain medications, heredity, advanced age, arthritis, alcoholism, neurological disorders, and injury to the peripheral nerves.

If you are experiencing tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain in your feet or legs, do not dismiss it. The sooner neuropathy is identified and addressed, the better the chances of slowing its progression. Schedule a visit so we can evaluate your symptoms and recommend the right testing.

Nerve Testing and Treatment Options

Nerve sensory testing is performed using an electromyogram (EMG), which measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction. Nerve conduction studies measure how well and how fast the nerves can send electrical signals. An abnormal response indicates a problem with the nerves and muscles and may help establish the specific nature of the issue.

No major preparation is necessary for an EMG. You should bathe or shower the day of the test, and your doctor may ask you not to use lotion or oil on the area being examined. Let your doctor know if you have a pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator, as electrical stimulation may affect these implants. During the test, you will lie on a table or sit in a reclining chair while electrodes record electrical activity in your muscles, both relaxed and contracted. The EMG usually takes 30 to 60 minutes.

Once we identify the cause of your symptoms, several treatment options may be considered. MicroVAS treatments use a powerful ionic waveform to create deep-layered, pulsed muscle contractions that increase circulation, boost lymphatic drainage, and help manage pain. Nutritional supplements such as Metanx and Frezzor can support nerve repair and reduce inflammation.

For patients whose pain does not respond to conservative care, decompression surgery of the nerves can be performed on an outpatient basis. Nevro HFX, a non-drug treatment recently approved by the FDA for painful diabetic neuropathy, is another option for long-term relief. You will receive your EMG results within a couple of days, and we will work with you to put together a treatment plan based on what the testing reveals.