7 Healthcast: Neuropathy

Elizabeth Crawford, has neuropathy
"It felt like stepping on needles constantly and I still feel that way, I can't have anyone touch my legs, its very painful."

Elizabeth Crawford, 41, of Salem suffers from neuropathy, a disease that affects the central nervous system.

Symptoms include tingling in the hands and feet, dizziness and difficulty walking.

Elizabeth Crawford, has neuropathy
"It's difficult, very difficult. .... I can't plan day to day because I don't know if I will be able to get out of bed."

There is no definitive known cause for neuropathy, and that makes it even harder to diagnose & treat.

Dr. Kenneth Gorson, professor of neurology, St. Elizabeth's
"There's around 20 million individuals affected with peripheral neuropathy in the United States and frequently they are not diagnosed."

Dr. Kenneth Gorson, professor of neurology, St. Elizabeth's
"they may be attributed to age, arthritis, or other sorts of problems that the clinician may not recognize that in fact there is a peripheral nerve disorder causing the patients symptoms"

The disease not only affects Elizabeth, but it takes a toll on her husband and daughter as well.

Elizabeth Crawford, has neuropathy
"You know its difficult to have to rely on my 10 year old to help get me dressed."

Katie Crawford, helps out her mom

I do the dishes and feed the pets, I help her put her shoes on and I clean up

Elizabeth says her daughter not only offers help, she offers hope...

Katie Crawford, helps out her mom
"She knows I am there for her and I will have hope too and that we can make it through it."

Neuropathy can be treated, but there is no cure.

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