Neuropathy Prognosis

Getting a diagnosis is sometimes difficult enough but asking your doctor for a prognosis will more often than not result in a symbolic shrug of the shoulders. Of course they will tell you that this that and the other can help with the symptoms and wil try to present a positive outlook to keep you from becoming too depressed but a prognosis of how the disease itself will develop in your particular case, is nigh on impossible. It's just one of those diseases at the moment, where the specialists just can't tell you that any one particular treatment will cure your neuropathy. Hopefully, research will throw up a once-and-for-all cure in the future, maybe in the field of gene therapy but until then, it's still a question of 'suck it and see'.
This article from Medifocus Health (see link below) presents quite clearly, the current attitude towards giving a prognosis for neuropathy patients.

Prognosis for Peripheral Neuropathy

The prognosis for patients with peripheral neuropathy ranges from very promising, where neuropathy resolves completely, to less promising in more severe cases where the pain and other symptoms do not respond to treatment and may persist for many years. Various medications, such as over-the-counter pain relievers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, lidocaine patches, and others are available to relieve pain and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, but they do not work for everyone. Peripheral neuropathy symptoms, particularly the pain, dysesthesia, and muscle weakness, cause a significant impact on patients' quality of life.

The progression of symptoms of peripheral neuropathy is highly variable depending on the etiology of the neuropathy as well as on individual variation. Most types of peripheral neuropathy progress slowly over time. Idiopathic peripheral neuropathy may progress or may remain at the level where it was first diagnosed. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is progressive, but careful glucose control is usually effective in at least partially managing the symptoms and possibly slowing progression.

Physical and occupational therapy are valuable tools for maintaining limb mobility and daily living activities. Lifestyle modifications may be needed to accommodate new symptoms as they develop. Some patients may benefit from psychological counseling. Although peripheral neuropathy may cause intense discomfort and interference with quality of life, it typically does not cause serious ongoing disability and is not a life-threatening condition (except for Guillain-Barre syndrome).

http://www.medifocushealth.com/NR021/Treatment-Options-for-Peripheral-Neuropathy_Prognosis-for-Peripheral-Neuropathy.php