Neuropathic disorders encompass those that affect the neuron’s cell body or neuronopathies, those affecting the peripheral processes, which consist of radiculopathy, plexopathy, or peripheral neuropathy and at times a combination. Before laboratory tests are ordered, the clinician should ask 7 key questions. Based on information obtained from the history and neurologic examination and the answers to these questions, a patient can be placed in 11 patterns. Each of these patterns leads to a narrower list for differential diagnosis. Once a particular pattern is recognized, further laboratory studies can be performed to confirm the clinical impression.