normal skin/nerve biopsy

[telepink]

Going into the fourth month of trying to get a diagnosis for my husband.
The skin/nerve biopsy came back "normal". What does this mean? Is this good news or bad news when suspecting ALS. Honesty please.

[halfin]

I can't really help you because I'm not familiar with the use of a skin/nerve biopsy in the diagnosis. I have heard of muscle biopsy being used, they can see signs of muscle changes due to the nerve damage from ALS. In that case a "normal" result would point away from ALS (and would also point away from certain other muscle disorders). But again I'm not sure whether your husband's biopsy was the same as this.

[GlenBrittle]

I would say its good news.

It is said that the dx for ALS comes when everything else has been ruled out.

Glen

[telepink]

I'm thinking that they do this test to look for other conditions so they can rule out ALS. Getting a normal biopsy may mean ALS is still possible.
Not sure.

[sbbaber]

my husband had bio. in may came back inconclusive was diag. dec -2009 bio of muscle and nerve.