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Neurology (Expert Forum)
small fiber
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Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Jun 25, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Larry:
You ask a very good question, but perhaps too broad to answer on this forum. I will try and condense this. Various nerves are found in different diameters. I don't know why nature did it this way, but it just is. The smaller ones are involved in pain and temperature sensation where as motor function, position sense, vibration sensen are larger nerves. Touch is mediated by both kinds. EMG studies do not measure small diameter nerves only those of medium and large diameter. There arev very select etiologies of small fiber neuropathies, amyloid, diabetes, hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies, Fabry's disease, and Tangiers disease. There is in addition, an idiopathetic type which we do not know the etiology of. Except for the latter, the only way to treat is to treat the underlying illness. Left untreated, the small fibers or nerves will die. This causes complete numbness or lack of function depending on the neuron. I hope I have helped you alittle.
CCF Neuro MD
You ask a very good question, but perhaps too broad to answer on this forum. I will try and condense this. Various nerves are found in different diameters. I don't know why nature did it this way, but it just is. The smaller ones are involved in pain and temperature sensation where as motor function, position sense, vibration sensen are larger nerves. Touch is mediated by both kinds. EMG studies do not measure small diameter nerves only those of medium and large diameter. There arev very select etiologies of small fiber neuropathies, amyloid, diabetes, hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies, Fabry's disease, and Tangiers disease. There is in addition, an idiopathetic type which we do not know the etiology of. Except for the latter, the only way to treat is to treat the underlying illness. Left untreated, the small fibers or nerves will die. This causes complete numbness or lack of function depending on the neuron. I hope I have helped you alittle.
CCF Neuro MD
What aout viral and drug induced small fiber conditions?
Does this mean your nerves just die as what treatment is there for that?