Nerve damage can become permanent The pain may reach a high point before reaching a state of constant numbness. Once your nerves become too damaged, they can't send signals to your brain. The constant state of numbness can make walking difficult 一 if not impossible.
The outlook for peripheral neuropathy varies, depending on the underlying cause and which nerves have been damaged. Some cases may improve with time if the underlying cause is treated, whereas in some people the damage may be permanent or may get gradually worse with time.
Roughly 20 million Americans are living with neuropathy. Living with daily pain and discomfort can be challenging. People with neuropathy are at a higher risk for depression and anxiety than those without a neurological disorder. The good news is treatable, and a pain management specialist can help.
Damage to nerves may result in reduction or a complete loss of sensation, weakness and dry skin. When one of your nerves is cut or damaged, it will try to repair itself. The nerve fibres (axons) shrink back and 'rest' for about a month; then they begin to grow again.
Severe cases of peripheral neuropathy can cause total or partial paralysis, loss of bodily functions, and sensory problems. The causes of peripheral neuropathy include physical injury, diabetes, blood and vascular problems, autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy drugs, infections, and other conditions.
Nerve damage can occur after any injury, with the results often being related to the severity of the injury. Minor injuries may cause some nerve damage, but your body tries to heal itself whenever possible. However, more serious injuries can cause severe nerve damage which often requires nerve repairs.
A nerve injury can affect the brain's ability to communicate with muscles and organs. Damage to the peripheral nerves is called peripheral neuropathy. It's important to get medical care for a peripheral nerve injury as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent complications and permanent damage.
Early-onset patients, whose symptoms appear between the ages of 30 and 50, usually experience more rapid disease progression. Disease progression is reportedly slower — with a survival rate of up to 20 years — among patients who develop symptoms later on, after the age of 50.
With sensory peripheral neuropathy, nerve damage in the feet causes numbness, often as a result of diabetes or chemotherapy, leading to difficulties walking and a higher risk for falls.
The symptoms depend on the type of nerve fibers affected and the type and severity of damage. Symptoms may develop over days, weeks, or years. In some cases, symptoms improve on their own and may not require advanced care.
Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can feel as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. You may be very sensitive to touch or cold. You may also experience pain as a result of touch that would not normally be painful, such as something lightly brushing your skin.
An MRI may be able help identify structural lesions that may be pressing against the nerve so the problem can be corrected before permanent nerve damage occurs. Nerve damage can usually be diagnosed based on a neurological examination and can be correlated by MRI scan findings.
Seruya wants his patients to know that after a period of 12-18 months nerve damage can become permanent.
To find out, conclusively, if your nerves are damaged, you need to see a neurologist. He or she will perform tests to determine the health of your muscles and nerves. If there is a problem, the doctor will explain the reason for the damage and its extent. They will follow up by devising a treatment plan.
Persistent pins and needles may be symptomatic of more serious conditions, such as nerve injury or inflammation. Always see your doctor if you experience persistent or frequent episodes of pins and needles.
The final stage of neuropathy is severe and constant numbness in the affected areas. The pain at this point will be all but gone since the feeling in these areas are no more. It is also extremely difficult to both keep balance and walk once the final stage has set in due to the damage that has been done.
The condition will only worse if you don't seek help—so don't wait. For some, neuropathy symptoms progress rapidly—from asymptomatic to wheelchair-bound within a year or two.
Neuropathy is a disorder that prevents nerves from functioning properly. It can cause paralysis if a nerve is completely lacerated, although total paralysis is rare in people with neuropathy. Rather, the disease causes varying degrees of weakness, depending on the type and severity of the neuropathy.
A blood test can detect conditions that may be causing peripheral neuropathy, such as diabetes, nutrient deficiencies, liver or kidney dysfunction, and abnormal immune system activity.
Over time, those fibers may undergo degeneration and die, which means the neuropathy is worse because of the loss of more nerve fibers. This may cause increased numbness, but it usually causes the pain to get better. In this scenario, less pain means greater degeneration.
PN was strongly associated with earlier mortality. Mean survival time for those with PN was 10.8 years, compared with 13.9 years for subjects without PN.
As you age, your brain and nervous system go through natural changes. Your brain and spinal cord lose nerve cells and weight (atrophy). Nerve cells may begin to pass messages more slowly than in the past. Waste products or other chemicals such as beta amyloid can collect in the brain tissue as nerve cells break down.
Some forms of nerve damage can be repaired on their own once the initial cause of the damage is alleviated. However, depending on the severity of the damage, the body simply might not be capable of rebuilding the nerve tissue needed to reform the connection, and restore function.
Working with Neuropathy
For those who work at a desk or in a sedentary environment, it may be more feasible to work, even with neuropathy pain. However, some people's symptoms will make it difficult for them to sit for an extended period, type on a computer, or do other tasks required of them.