Overview
Understanding medical terms and acronyms can help you better communicate
with your healthcare team and understand your condition. This dictionary
explains common words, abbreviations, and phrases you might encounter
when dealing with Small Fiber Neuropathy.
Medical language can feel overwhelming at first, but learning these
terms will help you become a more informed patient. Don't hesitate to
ask your doctor or healthcare provider to explain any terms you don't
understand during your appointments.
Common Acronyms
These are the most frequently used abbreviations and acronyms in
Small Fiber Neuropathy discussions, medical records, and research.
- ALA - Alpha Lipoic Acid. A powerful antioxidant supplement that may help reduce nerve pain and protect against further nerve damage.
- ALCAR - Acetyl-L-Carnitine. A supplement that helps nerve cells produce energy and may support nerve repair and reduce pain.
- EMG - Electromyography. A test that measures electrical activity in muscles to help diagnose nerve and muscle disorders.
- IENFD - Intraepidermal Nerve Fiber Density. A measurement of how many small nerve fibers are present in a skin biopsy sample.
- iSFN - Idiopathic Small Fiber Neuropathy. Small fiber neuropathy with no known underlying cause.
- IVIG - Intravenous Immunoglobulin. A treatment that uses antibodies from healthy donors to help regulate the immune system.
- JAKI - Janus Kinase Inhibitors. A class of drugs that block JAK enzymes, which are important for immune cell signaling and inflammation.
- LDN - Low Dose Naltrexone. A medication used at low doses (1-5mg) that may help reduce inflammation and pain.
- MCAS - Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. A condition where mast cells release too many inflammatory chemicals, sometimes associated with SFN.
- NCS - Nerve Conduction Study. A test that measures how fast and well electrical signals travel through nerves.
- QSART - Quantitative Sudomotor Axon Reflex Test. A test that measures how well small nerve fibers control sweating.
- SFN - Small Fiber Neuropathy. Damage to the small nerve fibers that carry pain, temperature, and autonomic signals.
- TST - Thermoregulatory Sweat Test. A test that measures the body's ability to sweat normally in response to heat.
Medical Terms
These medical terms are commonly used when discussing Small Fiber
Neuropathy, its causes, and related conditions.
- Allodynia - Pain caused by something that normally doesn't hurt, like light touch or clothing against the skin.
- Autonomic Neuropathy - Damage to nerves that control automatic body functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.
- Axon - The long part of a nerve cell that carries electrical signals away from the cell body.
- Distal - Referring to parts of the body that are farther from the center, like hands and feet.
- Hyperalgesia - Increased sensitivity to pain, where painful things hurt more than they should.
- Hypesthesia - Decreased sensitivity to touch, pressure, or other sensations.
- Idiopathic - Having no known cause. Many cases of SFN are idiopathic.
- Inflammation - The body's immune response to injury or irritation, which can contribute to nerve damage.
- Myelin - A fatty substance that wraps around nerve fibers to help electrical signals travel faster.
- Neuropathic Pain - Pain caused by damage or dysfunction of the nervous system rather than tissue damage.
- Paresthesia - Abnormal sensations like tingling, pins and needles, or numbness.
- Peripheral Nervous System - All the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.
- Polyneuropathy - A condition affecting multiple nerves throughout the body.
- Proximal - Referring to parts of the body that are closer to the center, like the torso.
Tests & Procedures
Understanding the tests and procedures used to diagnose Small Fiber
Neuropathy can help you prepare for appointments and understand your results.
- Autonomic Function Testing - Tests that measure how well your autonomic nervous system controls things like heart rate and blood pressure.
- Corneal Confocal Microscopy - A specialized eye exam that can detect small nerve fiber damage in the cornea.
- Epidermal Nerve Fiber Density - Counting the number of small nerve fibers in a skin biopsy to diagnose SFN.
- Glucose Tolerance Test - A blood test that checks how your body processes sugar, used to diagnose diabetes.
- HbA1c - A blood test that shows your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months.
- Quantitative Sensory Testing - Tests that measure your ability to feel different sensations like vibration, temperature, and pressure.
- Skin Biopsy - A small sample of skin taken to count nerve fibers and diagnose small fiber neuropathy.
- Sudomotor Testing - Tests that measure your ability to sweat normally, which can be affected by small fiber damage.
- Tilt Table Test - A test that measures how your blood pressure and heart rate respond when you change positions.
- Vitamin Level Testing - Blood tests to check for deficiencies in vitamins like B12, B1, and others that can cause neuropathy.
Treatments & Medications
These are common treatments, medications, and therapeutic approaches
used to manage Small Fiber Neuropathy symptoms.
- Anticonvulsants - Medications originally used for seizures that can also treat nerve pain, like gabapentin and pregabalin.
- Antidepressants - Certain antidepressants like duloxetine and nortriptyline can help reduce nerve pain.
- Capsaicin - A cream made from hot peppers that can help reduce pain when applied to the skin.
- Compounding Pharmacy - A pharmacy that makes custom medications, often needed for treatments like low dose naltrexone.
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta) - An antidepressant medication that is also FDA-approved for treating diabetic nerve pain.
- Gabapentin - An anticonvulsant medication commonly used as a first-line treatment for nerve pain.
- IRAK Inhibitors - Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase inhibitors that play critical roles in controlling immune responses.
- JAK Inhibitors (JAKi) - Janus kinase inhibitors are medications that modulate the immune system by blocking the activity of specific enzymes involved in inflammation.
- Lidocaine - A numbing medication that can be applied as a cream or patch to reduce localized nerve pain.
- Multimodal Therapy - Using several different treatments together for better pain control.
- Opioids - Strong pain medications that are sometimes used for severe neuropathic pain, but with caution due to addiction risks.
- Pregabalin (Lyrica) - An anticonvulsant medication similar to gabapentin, used to treat nerve pain.
- TENS Unit - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation device that uses mild electrical pulses to help reduce pain.
- Topical Treatments - Creams, gels, or patches applied directly to the skin where pain occurs.
- Tricyclic Antidepressants - Older antidepressants like nortriptyline that can be effective for nerve pain.
Symptoms & Sensations
These terms describe the various symptoms and sensations that people
with Small Fiber Neuropathy commonly experience.
- Burning Pain - A hot, searing sensation that is one of the most common symptoms of small fiber neuropathy.
- Dysesthesia - Unpleasant abnormal sensations that can feel like burning, aching, or electric shocks.
- Electric Shock Sensations - Sharp, shooting pains that feel like electrical jolts through the affected area.
- Hyperhidrosis - Excessive sweating that can occur when autonomic nerves are affected.
- Hypoesthesia - Reduced ability to feel normal sensations like touch or temperature.
- Numbness - Loss of feeling or sensation in affected areas, though this is less common in pure small fiber neuropathy.
- Phantom Pain - Pain that feels like it's coming from an area that has reduced sensation.
- Pins and Needles - A prickling or tingling sensation, also called paresthesia.
- Restless Legs - An uncomfortable urge to move the legs, often worse at night, sometimes associated with neuropathy.
- Stabbing Pain - Sharp, knife-like pains that come and go suddenly.
- Stocking-Glove Distribution - A pattern where symptoms start in the hands and feet and gradually move toward the body.
- Temperature Sensitivity - Difficulty sensing hot or cold temperatures, or pain triggered by temperature changes.
- Tingling - A light prickling sensation, often described as feeling like carbonation on the skin.
- Warm/Cool Sensations - Abnormal feelings of warmth or coolness in affected areas without actual temperature changes.
Written by the SFN Foundation
August 22, 2025
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