How severe can neuropathy get?

If left untreated, neuropathy can gradually damage more nerves and cause permanent damage. As a result, a person may suffer from foot ulcers and other complications that can cause serious bacterial infections of lack of blood flow. This, in turn, leads to Gangrene, or the complete death of body tissue.

What happens in end stage neuropathy?

People with advanced neuropathy may have problems sleeping, experience paralysis, muscle failure or problems with organs or other bodily functions. In many cases, neuropathy may begin with extremities, such as toes and fingers, and work itself up to the core of the body through the hands and feet.

How do you know if neuropathy is getting worse?

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.

How painful can neuropathy get?

People with peripheral neuropathy generally describe the pain as stabbing, burning or tingling. In many cases, symptoms improve, especially if caused by a treatable condition. Medications can reduce the pain of peripheral neuropathy.

Is neuropathy life threatening?

Symptoms can range from mild to disabling and are rarely life-threatening. 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, the symptoms improve on their own and may not require advance d care.

Can you end up in a wheelchair with peripheral neuropathy?

For some, neuropathy symptoms progress rapidly—from asymptomatic to wheelchair-bound within a year or two. For others, neuropathy evolves slowly over many years. However, in each case, the problem will not go away on its own.

How do neuropathy patients live?

The good news for those living with neuropathy is that it is sometimes reversible. Peripheral nerves do regenerate. Simply by addressing contributing causes such as underlying infections, exposure to toxins, or vitamin and hormonal deficiencies, neuropathy symptoms frequently resolve themselves.