Taking Neuropathy Symptoms To Your Doctor

Today's post from mayoclinic.com (see link below) is extremely useful for those people who are going to see a doctor about their neuropathy symptoms. Very often, you're not quite sure how to put your problems into words. Neuropathy provides symptoms that are almost unique in terms of how they feel and finding the right ways to explain how you're feeling to your doctor can be tricky. There are some very constructive tips in this article and they will help you get the best reaction out of your doctor in the limited amount of time you have for an appointment. Definitely worth a read.

Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staff Nov 2nd 2011

You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, you may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in nervous stem disorders (neurologist).

To make the most of your appointment time, it's good to arrive prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and to know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

• Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements you're taking.
• Ask a family member or friend to come with you, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all of the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.

Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your doctor. For peripheral neuropathy, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
• Are there other possible causes for my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
• Is this condition temporary or long lasting?
• What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
• What types of side effects can I expect from treatment?

• Are there alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Do I need to restrict any activities?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
• Are there brochures or other printed material I can take home with me? 
• What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions that occur to you.

What to expect from your doctor

• Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:
• Do you have any underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease?
• When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
• Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
• How severe are your symptoms?
• Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheral-neuropathy/DS00131/DSECTION=preparing-for-your-appointment