I would be interested in hearing from people who stopped working because of their neuropathy. How did you know that you just couldn't continue to work? Thanks to all.

In the case of CMT, a person knows when they can no longer do the job or many other jobs. And a neurologist who knows CMT can confirm that you no longer can do the job.

Are you asking about SSDI and if that might apply, or just stopping working in general.

We have a Disability forum that can help get you started in that process and with info on what is needed to qualify if that is a concern.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum28.html

Thank you for the information

i have had pn now for almost 13 years. the pain has defiitely lessened as the numbness has increased. i still get shocking, squeezing, stabbing and burnng pain sporadically but it is much less and the throbbing pain in gone. my main pain problem now is the broken bones type pain i get on standing or walkng which has greatly limited me. i get tired easily, and my limbs start to feel like lead after short periods of activity. balance is a big problem. the pn is still progressing in severity slowly for me.

Hi,
Do you take Lyrica or Gabapentin or on a Viatmin regime. Did you ever go to Physical Therapy and take long walks to build up strength and endurance.

Thirteen years is a long time to have this monster condition. I noticed in the 8 months I have had it at times it's fine and plenty of times it's not especially at night. During the day when I am active it's is ok most of the time at the day wears on I start feeling the burning and numbness more and the hurt and my legs ache not everyday but throughout the week.

That is great it's is on a slow boat I hope I am that way too with the progression. I noticed lately my ankles feel numb maybe it's crawling up. However I was diagnosed with sensory polyneuropathy from feet to knee.

Thanks for sharing.
uglogirl aka Gloria

I have Neuropathy since October and it is extremely painful. I am in my
60s and stopped working in the Public Sector 5 years ago. I work at home as a customer service representative and that is hard enough without thoughts of working outside the home.

I can wear comfy clothes and don't need to put shoes on my feet. I would not be able to do it.

My feet when they are burning and acting up I can put on bengay and put them up to relax.

Kudos to anyone who has Neuropathy and works outside of the home.

Like the person above said you will know when you can't work anymore

I think you would know it is too much of a struggle and would feel hopeless.

Shopping to me some days is too much not alone going to work everyday.

Good Luck.
uglogirl

I have been struggling with trying to work even though my pain is so bad I often end up crying in the bathroom while at work. I feel like my job is killing me but I can't afford to not work. It's a hard choice to have to make.

it was made for me. a doctor at my job walked into the room looked at the chart, looked at me and said your career is over and walked out. i have more than pn but for me the pn has been the most limiting and life changing 24/7.

It was so hard to finally make that decision. I've had SFN for 6 years now. I managed to work for 4 of them. I put so much education etc. into getting my job it killed me to give it up.

I knew it was time when I would be up in pain until 3am and had to be in work at seven. I use to sit on the edge of my bed and cry about my pain before I left the house. I got to the point where my focus was more on my pain then my work. Not fair to others.

That being said, I still miss it. If you are considering it you are probably getting to that point.
Good luck!