Can you still work with neuropathy?

Some people will be able to work while suffering from neuropathy, depending on both the severity of their condition and the nature of their work. For those who work at a desk or in a sedentary environment, it may be more feasible to work, even with neuropathy pain.

Is neuropathy considered a disability?

Neuropathy is considered a disability by the SSA. The SSA refers to a medical guide called the Blue Book when evaluating eligibility for Social Security disability benefits. Section 11.14 of the Blue Book lists the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy that might make you eligible for financial assistance.

What can you not do with neuropathy?

Keep Smoking and Drinking Alcohol Both cigarettes and alcohol can have a toxic effect on nerve tissue. Heavy drinking can actually make neuropathy worse. It can alter the level of important minerals and vitamins that are needed for proper nerve function.

Can you live a normal life with peripheral neuropathy?

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.

Can you get disability for neuropathy in your feet?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes both peripheral neuropathy and diabetic neuropathy as potentially disabling conditions that may qualify applicants to received SSDI benefits.

NEW FDA Approved Pain Relief for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (PDN)

When does neuropathy become a disability?

Neuropathy does not result in a disabling condition in every case. You must provide sufficient evidence to the SSA that proves your neuropathy symptoms are so severe that you cannot engage in any gainful activity to support yourself for at least 12 months.

Can I drive with neuropathy?

When you try to drive with neuropathy, you can't feel the gas or brake pedal. This loss of sensation can cause you to brake suddenly and accelerate more rapidly than normal. It might also cause a delayed response time because it's harder to find the pedals.

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.

Is peripheral neuropathy a big deal?

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.

What triggers neuropathy?

Nutritional or vitamin imbalances, alcoholism, and exposure to toxins can damage nerves and cause neuropathy. Vitamin B12 deficiency and excess vitamin B6 are the best known vitamin-related causes. Several medications have been shown to occasionally cause neuropathy.

What will a neurologist do for neuropathy?

Treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy

Our neurologists prescribe medication to treat neuropathy. A procedure called plasma exchange can help some people with peripheral neuropathy achieve remission.

Is neuropathy always permanent?

Living with peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may lessen or go away over time, but in some cases they never go away.

Can neuropathy cripple me?

In a great many cases, PN is crippling, limiting mobility and increasing the likelihood of falls, which can be disastrous. The pain of PN in the extremities has been likened to a horrific case of shingles. For many, its debilitating pain prevents sleep and requires medication.

Can you work with neuropathy pain?

Some people will be able to work while suffering from neuropathy, depending on both the severity of their condition and the nature of their work. For those who work at a desk or in a sedentary environment, it may be more feasible to work, even with neuropathy pain.

How much disability do you get for neuropathy?

Typically speaking, the maximum VA rating for peripheral neuropathy is 40%, but you may be entitled to more if your symptoms are severe and includes several of your limbs affected.

Can neuropathy make you tired?

Many people with peripheral neuropathy have feelings of severe tiredness (fatigue) that are not necessarily related to physical problems such as muscle weakness. Evidence in other long-term illnesses where fatigue is a problem suggests that medicines and other forms of treatment may help.

What is the number one medicine for neuropathy?

The main medicines recommended for neuropathic pain include: amitriptyline – also used for treatment of headaches and depression. duloxetine – also used for treatment of bladder problems and depression. pregabalin and gabapentin – also used to treat epilepsy, headaches or anxiety.

Does peripheral neuropathy hurt all the time?

Peripheral neuropathy results from damage to nerves, which can result in pain but doesn't always. In fact, some types of neuropathy are not painful. People also define pain differently.

Is neuropathy life long?

Neuropathy is not a permanent condition

Surgery won't reverse the natural vertebrae damage due to aging but can relieve symptoms in the here and now. For more information about neuropathy treatment, speak with a healthcare provider.

What makes neuropathy worse?

Smoking and Drinking Alcohol

Heavy drinking makes neuropathy worse. Vitamins and minerals are essential for your body functions but smoking and drinking can alter the level of minerals and vitamins that are needed for proper nerve function.

How do you prove neuropathy?

Confirming if you have a neuropathy

a nerve conduction test (NCS), where small metal wires called electrodes are placed on your skin that release tiny electric shocks to stimulate your nerves; the speed and strength of the nerve signal is measured.

What is the newest treatment for neuropathy?

Intraneural Facilitation (INF) treatment effectively restores blood flow to damaged nerves, decreasing pain caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), according to a new study conducted by researchers at Loma Linda University Health.

Is it hard to walk with neuropathy?

The pain and tingling associated with peripheral neuropathy can impact almost every aspect of your life. It can be tough to walk because of the pain you can experience in your feet and the effect it has on your balance. Neuropathy can sometimes increase your risk for falls.

What are the best shoes to wear if you have peripheral neuropathy?

How long does it take to heal neuropathy?

Regeneration time depends on how seriously your nerve was injured and the type of injury that you sustained. If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of 'rest' following your injury.