THERMAL SENSORY ANALYSIS
The symptoms from a neuropathy can arise from “small-fibre” sensory involvement and abnormalities of these nerves also account for some pain syndromes. These thermal sensory detection and/or thermal-pain thresholds can be abnormal in the “small-fibre” neuropathies and various limb and facial pain syndromes even when conventional NCS are normal.
This test involves placing a thermode (flat metal plate) on the skin and you are asked to respond with a push-button when you detect these small temperature changes. This series of tests measures the sensitivity of the skin thermal and pain receptors and the nerve fibres (Aδ-fibres and C-fibres) and spinal pathways which convey these sensations to the brain from these receptors.
