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.
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Is neuropathy can cause death?

No matter what type of neuropathy you have, if you reach stage three, your injuries can lead to more severe infections, such as sepsis and gangrene. In the most severe cases, these infections may lead to amputation or death, so you need to seek immediate medical care.
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What type of neuropathy is fatal?

Acute symmetrical peripheral neuropathy Rare, this severe, rapidly developing form of polyneuropathy affects nerves throughout the body and is most often seen in Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that attacks the peripheral nervous system and can be fatal.
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What is end stage neuropathy?

Stage 5: Complete Loss of Feeling

This is the final stage of neuropathy, and it is where you've lost any and all feeling in your lower legs and feet. You do not feel any pain, just intense numbness. This is because there are no nerves that are able to send signals to your brain.
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Can you become paralyzed with neuropathy?

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.
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Peripheral Neuropathy



How severe can neuropathy get?

If the underlying cause of peripheral neuropathy isn't treated, you may be at risk of developing potentially serious complications, such as a foot ulcer that becomes infected. This can lead to gangrene (tissue death) if untreated, and in severe cases may mean the affected foot has to be amputated.
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Can you live with neuropathy?

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.
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What is the life expectancy with neuropathy?

There are several key factors that affect a patient's prognosis in familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), but most people with the rare, inherited, progressive disease have a life expectancy of about 10 years after being diagnosed.
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What are the five stages of neuropathy?

Let's take a look at the five stages of peripheral neuropathy and how you can recognize each.
  • Stage One: Numbness and Pain. ...
  • Stage Two: More Regular Symptoms. ...
  • Stage Three: The Pain Reaches Its High Point. ...
  • Stage Four: Constant Numbness. ...
  • Stage Five: Total Loss of Feeling. ...
  • Do You Need Help with Neuropathy?
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How quickly does neuropathy progress?

How quickly does neuropathy develop? Some peripheral neuropathies develop slowly – over months to years – while others develop more rapidly and continue to get worse. There are over 100 types of neuropathies and each type can develop differently.
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Is neuropathy curable?

There is no cure for peripheral neuropathy but proper treatment will slow progression and address your symptoms. If the cause of the foot neuropathy is known, then treatment of the underlying cause may provide relief.
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What are the warning signs of neuropathy?

The Top 17 Peripheral Neuropathy Warning Signs and Symptoms
  • burning pain radiating in hands or feet.
  • pins and needles in the extremities.
  • numbness and tingling.
  • weakness in arms and legs.
  • a knotted feeling in the soles and palms.
  • pain from the lightest touches.
  • difficulty walking.
  • pain from the pressure of walking.
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Is walking good for neuropathy?

Regular exercise, such as walking three times a week, can reduce neuropathy pain, improve muscle strength and help control blood sugar levels.
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Can neuropathy affect your heart?

Autonomic neuropathy can damage the nerves of the cardiovascular system, affecting heart rate and blood pressure: Blood pressure may drop sharply after you sit or stand, causing a feeling of lightheadedness. Heart rate may remain high or too low instead of fluctuating with body functions and exercise.
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Is there any hope for neuropathy?

No medical treatments exist that can cure inherited peripheral neuropathy.
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How do you stop neuropathy from progressing?

How To Slow The Progression of Diabetic Neuropathies
  1. Losing weight.
  2. Exercising.
  3. Control blood sugar levels.
  4. Quit smoking.
  5. Stop drinking alcohol.
  6. Treat all injuries and infections right away.
  7. Improving vitamin deficiencies.
  8. Managing stress.
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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.
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What causes neuropathy to flare up?

It's usually caused by chronic, progressive nerve disease, and it can also occur as the result of injury or infection. If you have chronic neuropathic pain, it can flare up at any time without an obvious pain-inducing event or factor. Acute neuropathic pain, while uncommon, can occur as well.
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Can neuropathy cause difficulty walking?

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.
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What can be done for neuropathy in the feet?

Since burning sensations in the feet are a common symptom of people with neuropathy, you should know about the topical treatments that can help. Prescription treatments like SSRIs, Cymbalta, and Wellbutrin can help you if you have peripheral neuropathy symptoms.
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How do people live with neuropathy pain?

The following suggestions can help you manage peripheral neuropathy:
  1. Take care of your feet, especially if you have diabetes. Check your feet daily for signs of blisters, cuts or calluses. ...
  2. Quit smoking. ...
  3. Eat healthy meals. ...
  4. Massage. ...
  5. Avoid prolonged pressure.
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Can neuropathy affect your organs?

Neuropathy can affect nerves that control muscle movement (motor nerves) and those that detect sensations such as coldness or pain (sensory nerves). In some cases, it can affect internal organs, such as the heart, blood vessels, bladder, or intestines.
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How do I live with neuropathy in my feet?

If you have neuropathy, it's critical that you stay as active as possible. Regular activity and physical fitness promote healthy circulation and make your body more nutritionally efficient, which helps limit the progression of nerve damage and keep symptoms to a minimum.
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What is the most effective treatment for neuropathy?

The most effective treatment was nortriptyline. Of the study subjects taking this medication, 25% reported their discomfort improved by at least 50%. The least effective treatment was pregabalin: only 15% of study subjects reported that much improvement. Side effects were common with all of the treatments.
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Does neuropathy make you tired?

Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Many people with peripheral neuropathy have feelings of severe tiredness (fatigue) that are not necessarily related to physical problems such as muscle weakness.
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