In the process of trying to manage peripheral neuropathy, the biggest mistake that most doctors and patients make is ignoring the causes of the neuropathy or even worse assuming the cause muse be diabetes (or only diabetes). The truth is there are more then 150 different causes for peripheral neuropathy. Each of these causes should be considered and if possible, eliminated to help you both understand your peripheral neuropathy and ultimately have the necessary information to mange the disease process.

Over the years we have looked many (if not all) the 150+ distinct causes, but the process of diagnosis and management at that level is both problematic and money limiting.  It would cost thousands of dollars and take months, if not years to confirm or exclude all the diagnoses.  For that reason I have spent the last 20 years grouping these diagnoses into buckets...I now call the classes.  Which Diagnostic Classes can we confirm for your peripheral neuropathy? 

You will notice that I didn’t include Idiopathic. That is on purpose. My personal opinion is that the diagnosis of Idiopathic Peripheral Neuropathy means we don’t yet know the cause, not that there isn’t one.

My goal (and yours should be to0) is to always find one or more causes to help you move forward on the management and treatment of your peripheral neuropathy.

(Note: Most individuals I have worked with have at least 2-3 different causes, even if the primary cause is diabetes.  Don't ever assume diabetes is the only cause!)