
Can Nerve Tests Distinguish Between Diabetic Neuropathies And Other Neuropathies?

Not diabetes, could be compressive neuropathy,
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking!
I understand your concern. Age of 67 is a geriatric limited age with articular degenerations as an inevitable process. Numbness between epidural steroid injections inducing paresthesias in toes of both feet is less likely to be connected to diabetes as you don't have one. Fasting less than hundred and HBAc1 is still good at 6.2. slightly raised but still in normal range and that is due to steroids injections you took.
Nerve conduction studies may just correlate the neuropathies and sorting out the etiology to be demyelinating or diabetic neuropathy is not possible with just a conduction study. That further is evaluated with further work up. How ever, diabetic neuropathies are usually to the end arteries or vasa nervorum which are arteries supplying to the vessels. And that is a long term chronic process, meaning to get those symptoms, you need to be a long term diabetic and that too with no compliance and uncontrolled glucose levels.
HErniated disc itself and the age related articular degeneration of discs and demylination of nerves may be causing it more likely. Also the disc might be recurring and compressing the nerve leading to this pain. Only a detailed clinical correlation will sort out.
Let your doctors be the judge of that. I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
may the odds be ever in our favour.
Regards
Khan


Follow your doctor's advice.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back!
I understand the concern. Diabetes may be diagnosed with conduction studies for nerves and that is quite a tough job using different DSPN scorings and people with score 5N. But who would do that when a simple fasting glucose levels can fix that for you . Yo got my point? Your glucose level tests are fine and in normal range. I wonder why did doctor correlated it that way. he might have a reason for that.
Polyneuropathy is a symptom and there are thousands of etiologies behind it. Just the test can never help you diagnose it. Its the correlation clinically done to sort it out what is behind it.
But as your doctor has examined you and he has correlated all that clinically, i am sure he has valid reasons for your diagnosis. So i would strongly recommended to prefer his advice and do as directed by him .
I hope it helps.
take care.
Khan

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