What happens if you have nerve damage in your feet?

numbness and tingling in the feet or hands. burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas. loss of balance and co-ordination. muscle weakness, especially in the feet.

How do you fix nerve damage in your foot?

Medications—A variety of prescription medications can be used to alleviate neuropathy symptoms. Surgery—In more severe situations, surgery may be necessary to release swollen and compressed nerves. MLS Laser Therapy—This non-invasive therapy is the latest technology in neuropathy pain treatment.

Can nerve damage in feet be repaired?

Sometimes a section of a nerve is cut completely or damaged beyond repair. Your surgeon can remove the damaged section and reconnect healthy nerve ends (nerve repair) or implant a piece of nerve from another part of your body (nerve graft). These procedures can help your nerves regrow.

What happens when the nerves in your feet are damaged?

Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to the nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet. It can also affect other areas and body functions including digestion, urination and circulation.

What are the symptoms of nerve damage in the foot?

Checking Your Feet For Signs of Nerve Damage

Is nerve damage in foot permanent?

In many instances, nerve damage cannot be cured entirely. But there are various treatments that can reduce your symptoms. Because nerve damage is often progressive, it is important to consult with a doctor when you first notice symptoms. That way you can reduce the likelihood of permanent damage.

Can anything be done for nerve damage?

The pain, tingling, numbness and other discomforts of peripheral nerve disorders can often be treated successfully with physical therapy and other nonsurgical methods. But in some cases, surgery offers the best chance of lasting relief.

Can an MRI show nerve damage in foot?

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.

How do you test for nerve damage?

A nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test — also called a nerve conduction study (NCS) — measures how fast an electrical impulse moves through your nerve. NCV can identify nerve damage. During the test, your nerve is stimulated, usually with electrode patches attached to your skin.

Is there a cure for neuropathy in the feet?

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.

Is nerve damage considered a disability?

If you suffer from a condition that causes nerve damage that is so severe that it impacts your ability to work for at least a year, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits.

What kind of doctor treats nerve damage in foot?

You'll see a neurologist if you're experiencing peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage in your feet and toes. Podiatrist - A podiatrist is a doctor who focuses specifically on the feet and ankles. They will treat you if you have ulcers or other diabetes-related injuries to your feet.

How long can you live 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.

Can nerve damage heal on its own?

They can repair themselves if the injury is not too severe. Damage to nerves can be severe. Because of their structure and function, nerves do not heal as quickly as some body parts do, but sometimes nerve damage can heal on its own.

What is a nerve test on feet?

This test is used to test the nerves and muscles in your entire lower extremity. Your doctor will usually order this test when he suspects that there may be some type of problem with the nerve supply to your foot and leg.

Is nerve damage serious?

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.

Is nerve damage 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 advanced care.

How long before nerve damage becomes permanent?

As a specialist in peripheral nerve surgery, Dr. Seruya wants his patients to know that after a period of 12-18 months nerve damage can become permanent.

What does nerve damage feel like?

Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can be as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. People with neuropathic pain are often very sensitive to touch or cold and can experience pain as a result of stimuli that would not normally be painful, such as brushing the skin.

Can blood test detect nerve damage?

A variety of blood tests may be performed to determine the cause of nerve damage. These tests may look for high blood glucose levels, diabetes onset, vitamin deficiencies, etc.

What happens if you let a pinched nerve go untreated?

If left untreated, it may lead to permanent nerve damage. The most common symptoms of a pinched nerve include neck pain that travels down the arms and shoulders, difficulty lifting things, headache, and muscle weakness and numbness or tingling in fingers or hands.

How does neuropathy affect walking?

Walking with a wobbly motion or even losing your balance can result from diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Wearing orthopedic shoes often helps with this. Loss of coordination is a common sign of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Often, muscle weakness affects the ankle, which can affect your gait.

What are the first signs of nerve damage?

Can you live with neuropathy in your feet?

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. In most cases, however, neuropathy is not curable, and the focus for treatment is managing symptoms.

Can neuropathy shorten your life?

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.