A sural nerve biopsy may be useful to enable the clinician to diagnose the etiology and underlying pathology of patients presenting with symptoms of a peripheral neuropathy, when no clear underlying cause has been determined with conventional assessment such as electrophysiology or quantitative sensory testing.
The Best Wildflower Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains The Great Smoky Mountains are home to more than 1600 species of flowering plants. During each month of the year, some forb, tree or vine is blooming in the Smokies. During the spring, wildflowers explode during the brief window just prior to trees leafing out and shading the forest floor (from about mid-April thru mid-May).
Around March and April, the plants start to grow white flowers that develop into small green berries. The tiny green berries grow red and then a deep purple-blue as they ripen. When the berries are ripe, they are tender and difficult to pick in any quantity without squashing them. The plants do not have upright canes like some other Rubus species, but have stems that trail along the ground, putting forth new roots along the length of the stem.