Key takeaways
A naturopathic assessment starts with your story, then may use laboratory testing and functional lab testing to look at contributing factors.
Markers commonly reviewed include glucose and HbA1c, vitamin B12, thyroid function, inflammation and other nutrient levels.
Results are information, not a verdict, and they help shape a personalized plan.
Nature Doctors recommends starting with an initial consultation so tests are chosen for a reason.
If you have been living with numbness, tingling or burning, it can help to know what an assessment actually involves. This post walks through it step by step.
Ready to talk it through? Book a naturopathic assessment at Nature Doctors or call 204-943-6079.
What happens in a naturopathic assessment for numbness or tingling?
A naturopathic assessment is a detailed conversation followed by a plan for what to look at next. Your naturopathic doctor will ask where you feel symptoms, when they began, what makes them better or worse, and how your sleep, digestion, energy, medications and diet look. Our approach is root-cause, which means asking why symptoms are occurring rather than only where.
Questions are usually practical: Are symptoms in both feet or one? Are they worse at night? Have you had an injury or a change in medication? Have you changed your diet? The answers point toward which tests could add something useful.
Which laboratory markers are commonly reviewed?
Laboratory testing can reveal patterns that are easy to miss without it. These are the markers most often discussed when someone describes numbness, tingling or burning:
Glucose and HbA1c. Glucose is a snapshot of blood sugar, and HbA1c reflects the average over roughly three months. High blood glucose over time can affect nerves, which is why these numbers are part of the picture.
Vitamin B12. Serum B12 is the usual measure of B12 status, and methylmalonic acid (MMA) is a more sensitive marker sometimes used when results are borderline.
Thyroid function. Thyroid hormones influence energy and metabolism, so they are commonly checked.
Inflammation markers. These can show whether the body is under inflammatory stress.
Other nutrient markers. Iron-related markers, other B vitamins, magnesium and vitamin D may be considered depending on your history. Vitamin shortfalls, especially B vitamins, are among the factors linked to neuropathy.
Not everyone needs every test. Your naturopathic doctor will talk through which ones make sense for you.
What is functional lab testing?
Functional lab testing looks at how systems in the body are working, not only whether a number falls inside a standard range. At Nature Doctors the categories include metabolic and nutritional testing, gastrointestinal testing for digestion, absorption and the gut microbiome, hormone testing, and testing related to environmental toxins and Lyme and co-infections. Which of these is relevant depends on your story, and follow-up appointments are used to review results together.
How do results shape a plan?
Results help your naturopathic doctor decide what to focus on first. The plan is personalized and reviewed as things change. The clinic's wider team can be part of it, including acupuncture with Juyin Lu, R.Ac, massage therapy with Jennifer Weidemann, RMT and counselling with Jocelyn MacLeod, CCC, alongside nutritional guidance from your naturopathic doctor.
What should I prepare before my visit?
A short timeline of when symptoms started and what changes them
A simple written list of what you take, including anything prescribed
Any recent laboratory results you already have, so nothing is repeated unnecessarily
Notes on food, sleep, alcohol and activity over a typical week
Your top questions, written down
Can I do this if I live outside Winnipeg?
We offer virtual naturopathic appointments to people anywhere in Manitoba, for most patients. How tests are arranged for virtual patients depends on the test, so please call 204-943-6079 or email info@thenaturedoctors.ca to ask before you book.
What does the research say about nutrients and nerve health?
Low vitamin B12 can cause neurological changes, including numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, even without anaemia. Lifestyle habits such as not smoking, limiting alcohol, exercising, eating well and maintaining a healthy weight can all support healthier nerves. Laboratory testing is one way your naturopathic doctor looks at the nutrient side of that picture.
If you notice sudden weakness, numbness that spreads rapidly or loss of bladder or bowel control, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.
Frequently asked questions
What laboratory tests are commonly discussed?
Glucose, HbA1c, B12, thyroid markers, inflammation markers and other nutrient levels.
What is HbA1c?
A laboratory test that reflects average blood sugar over about three months.
Do I need functional lab testing?
Not always. It depends on your story and goals.
Will results change my plan?
Results help shape a personalized plan.
Can I get started virtually?
An initial virtual appointment is possible for most patients; call the clinic about test logistics.
Ready to put the pieces together?
Start with a naturopathic assessment at Nature Doctors. Book online with Nature Doctors, call 204-943-6079, or visit us at 7-1200 Waverley Street, Winnipeg.
Sources
Diabetes Canada, diabetes and nerve health: https://www.diabetes.ca
Health Canada, vitamins and minerals: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada.html