There may be a risk of nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy. This is a condition that affects the feet and hands. You may experience pain, burning, tingling, or loss of sensation in these body parts. If the nerves are damaged, you won’t be able to feel the injury. Small scratches can become a big problem as they can easily become infected if left unnoticed. Severe infections can lead to foot ulcers and amputation. Therefore, diagnosing and treating neuropathic problems will help protect yourself, and here the monofilament test plays an important role. Doctors perform this test once a year using a monofilament (fiber) to check for loss of sensation in different parts of the body. Learn more about this test, how it is performed, and how it can help treat peripheral neuropathy.
What is a monofilament test?
A monofilament test, commonly known as the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test (SWM), is performed by a health care provider to test for neurological disorders. Helps check sensation in feet, hands, fingers, and toes. For this accessible and delicate analysis, physicians use monofilaments. Monofilament is a fiber attached to a plastic base that looks like fishing line and contacts the skin surface of your hands and feet. This tests your ability to feel fibers. If you don’t feel any action, this indicates nerve damage to that part of your body. The monofilament test is also known as the 10-gram monofilament test because the fibers are adjusted to deflect under 10 grams of pressure. Monofilament tests are used to detect neurological disorders in people, so you may be wondering what this condition is and what its symptoms and causes are. I explained it in detail below!
What is peripheral neuropathy and its symptoms?
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that usually occurs when peripheral nerves are damaged. This causes weakness, pain, and numbness in the hands and feet. Additionally, it can affect other areas and functions of the body, such as urination and digestion. Symptoms of neuropathy include:
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tingling or burning sensation
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temporary or permanent numbness
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Malfunction of body organs or glands
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Improved sensitivity to touch
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Muscle weakness or muscle atrophy
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Sexual and urinary function problems
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Problems emptying the bladder completely
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paralysis
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pain
Causes of peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by several factors or underlying health conditions. These include:
Diabetes
the study Diabetes has been shown to be the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy in the United States, at approximately 83%. If type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar levels) is not managed over time, it can lead to peripheral nerve damage, causing extreme pain, numbness, and loss of sensation in the feet and lower extremities. Neuropathy caused by diabetes (also called diabetic peripheral neuropathy) can be treated early and effectively by monitoring your blood sugar levels, checking your feet for signs of infection or injury, and discussing symptoms of neuropathy with your doctor. It can be prevented by receiving proper treatment.
injury
Peripheral nerve damage can occur directly from physical trauma. These can include broken bones, car accidents, or accidental falls. Also, not exercising, being swollen, stretched, or staying in the same position for too long can cause nerve damage. This type of damage occurs in one area and can be long-term or even permanent.according to the studySome patients experience mild, slowly progressive tingling in the fingers due to increased pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. This condition is called carpal tunnel syndrome.
vitamin deficiency
Deficiencies in certain vitamin types, such as vitamins B1, B6, B9, B12, B9, and E, can cause peripheral nerve damage. the study It has been shown that B12 deficiency was found in 7% of 2,287 elderly people. Deficiency of this type of vitamin has been associated with motor and sensory peripheral nerve function. This condition leads to damage to the myelin sheath, the layer that covers nerves and protects them from damage. Without this protective sheath, nerves cannot function properly.
medicine
Medications can also cause peripheral neuropathy. These drugs include blood pressure drugs, chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment, anticonvulsants Medicines to treat seizures or prevent bacterial infections. Although no evidence has been found to support that statins, a class of drugs used to prevent cardiovascular problems and lower cholesterol levels, can cause neuropathy, other factors may lower your risk of developing neuropathy. There is a possibility of increasing it.
Note: If you have diabetes and are at high risk for neuropathy, your doctor may recommend a diabetic foot exam at least once a year. What is a diabetic foot test? Full explanation below!
What is a diabetic foot test?
Here is a comprehensive diabetic foot exam document that provides detailed information about diabetic foot exams. This type of test is useful for checking for neuropathy in the feet of diabetic patients. Diabetic foot problems can occur due to damage to blood vessels and nerves in the feet due to elevated blood sugar levels. This type of nerve damage caused by diabetes, also called “diabetic neuropathy,” causes tingling, numbness, and loss of sensation in the feet. You may notice calluses, cuts, and even blisters on your feet. If left untreated, these can become infected ulcers and cause gangrene. This is where a diabetic foot exam plays a role.
When examining a diabetic foot, your doctor will physically examine it by checking tendon reflexes, muscle tone, muscle strength, sensitivity to pain, touch, vibration, and temperature. We’ll also take your medical history, including any diabetes or other health problems you may have and any medications you take to manage your symptoms. Additionally, a monofilament test checks nerve function to quickly identify nerve damage or sensory loss in the foot. I wonder how monofilament foot testing can help diagnose diabetic neuropathy. read!
How to use a monofilament test to examine diabetic feet
The monofilament testing steps that can be performed during a diabetic foot exam are as follows:
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First, touch the monofilament to sensitive areas of the foot to understand how the patient should feel.
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Use monofilament to test 5 locations on both feet. These include the first, third, and fifth metatarsal heads, the surface of the plantar hallux (big toe), and the third toe. If callus has formed in these areas, apply monofilament to the nearest callus-free area.
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Ask the patient to close their eyes and say “yes” each time you touch any part of their foot.
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Hold the monofilament perpendicular (90 degrees) to the skin surface.
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Gently push the monofilament until it bends to 1 cm.
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Hold the monofilament in the same position for approximately 1-2 seconds. Then slowly release the pressure until it is lifted above the skin’s surface.
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Remove the monofilament contact from the skin.
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Never make fast movements. Contact, approach, and release of the monofilament from the skin surface should be approximately one and a half seconds.
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If the patient does not respond to touching on one area of the foot, repeat the test on another area. Even if you don’t get a response, record it as a negative review.
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The maximum score for the monofilament test is 10. A score of 8 or lower indicates neuropathy (nerve damage) in the foot.
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note that: Be sure to replace the monofilament after 500 uses.
However, your doctor may also recommend other tests to diagnose neuropathy. They include:
Blood test
These tests can help detect elevated blood sugar levels, low vitamin levels, and signs of metabolic problems and inflammation. All of these health issues contribute to peripheral neuropathy. This test estimates a complete blood count, which counts various blood cells. Abnormal results may indicate vitamin B12 deficiency. It also measures your blood sugar level in the morning. Early detection of diabetes symptoms, such as frequent urination, excessive thirst, and weight gain or loss, can help you manage your diabetes and prevent neuropathic problems.
Electromyography
Electromyography can help detect problems with how the body’s nerve signals are transmitted to the muscles. Your health care provider inserts a small needle into your muscle for this test. You will then be asked to move your muscles in slow motion. The needle helps estimate the amount of electricity moving around the muscle. During this test, you may feel like you are receiving an injection. In some cases, the area where the injection was given may be sore for several days.
nerve biopsy
This is the most common diagnostic technique for neuropathy testing. the study Of 50 patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy, researchers say nerve biopsies changed the diagnosis in 14% of people. A small piece of nerve will be removed for neuropathy testing. The doctor makes a small incision, extracts a nerve sample from it, and sends it to a laboratory where it is analyzed using a microscope. The results help identify the neurological condition and confirm the diagnosis of a neurological disorder.
skin biopsy
Skin biopsy is a safe and painless method for diagnosing neuropathy. In this diagnostic technique, a health care provider makes a small incision under anesthesia and takes a skin sample, usually from the lower leg, to send for testing. It helps detect painful sensory neuropathies that affect small nerve fibers known as axons. It also identifies other causes of neuropathy, such as sarcoidosis and vasculitis. Although not applicable to all patients, for many patients, skin biopsy is an effective diagnostic method compared to nerve biopsy.
Treatments for peripheral neuropathy
Wondering what to do after being diagnosed with neuropathy by monofilament test? Here are the best treatments:
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Neuropathy can be treated with medicines in the form of tablets, slow-release medications, injections, or patches placed on the skin.
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Surgery can reconnect the severed nerve firmly and reduce the pain caused by the damaged nerve. It also helps remove defective nerves to continue transmitting nerve signals to the brain and vice versa.
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Physical therapy can heal injuries and improve symptoms of neuropathic pain. It also helps to adapt to changes caused by nerve damage to the nervous system by strengthening balance and preventing falls.
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Peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes commonly affects the feet and requires foot care by wearing prescribed shoes. Wearing well-fitting shoes can help prevent further complications.
summary
Detection of peripheral neuropathy is essential to effective care and overall health of patients. Therefore, monofilament testing is necessary to prevent injuries and ulcers. Your doctor will perform a monofilament test to check for possible nerve damage and loss of sensation in your limbs. Helping patients by curing neuropathy-related problems has always been a priority for medical professionals, and here monofilament testing can greatly benefit medical professionals.