Does foot nerve damage go away?
Mia Kelly
Published Jan 21, 2026
You may need to rest the affected area until it's healed. Nerves recover slowly, and maximal recovery may take many months or several years. You'll need regular checkups to make sure your recovery stays on track. If your injury is caused by a medical condition, your doctor will treat the underlying condition.
Can damaged foot nerves heal?
Nerves typically grow about an inch per month, and once the insulating cover is repaired, the nerve will usually begin to heal three or four weeks afterwards. A nerve injury in the ankle above the toes may take up to a year to return feeling to the toes.
Is nerve damage in the foot permanent?
But sometimes, nerve damage can be permanent, even if the cause is treated. Long-term (chronic) pain can be a major problem for some people. Numbness in the feet can lead to skin sores that do not heal. In rare cases, numbness in the feet may lead to amputation.
What happens if foot nerves 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.
Can nerves repair themselves?
When one of your nerves is cut or damaged, it will try to repair itself. The nerve fibres (axons) shrink back and 'rest' for about a month; then they begin to grow again. Axons will regenerate about 1mm per day. The extent to which your nerve will recover is variable, and it will always be incomplete.
26 related questions foundCan nerve damage be repaired naturally?
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.
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.
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.
How do you know if you have permanent nerve damage?
The signs of nerve damage include the following:
- Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
- Feeling like you're wearing a tight glove or sock.
- Muscle weakness, especially in your arms or legs.
- Regularly dropping objects that you're holding.
- Sharp pains in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.
Is nerve damage reversible?
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.
How long can it take for nerves to heal?
This graft needs to come from a donor part of the body, and that area may then have some permanent loss of feeling. Once the insulating cover is repaired, the nerve generally begins to heal three or four weeks later. Nerves grow about one inch per month, so it can take some time for feeling to return.
How do you reverse nerve damage?
While you can't reverse the damage from neuropathy, there are ways to help manage the condition, including:
- lowering your blood sugar.
- treating nerve pain.
- regularly checking your feet to make sure they are free of injury, wounds, or infection.
What happens if nerve damage goes untreated?
Left untreated, nerve damage may worsen over time. It can sometimes start in the nerves farthest from the brain and spinal cord -- like those in the feet and hands. Then it may move up into the legs and arms.
How do feet regenerate nerves?
Exercise releases natural painkillers called endorphins. Exercise also promotes blood flow to the nerves in the legs and feet. Researchers believe that regular exercise may create a long-lasting expansion in blood vessels in the feet, nourishing damaged nerves back to health.
Can damaged nerves regenerate?
Generally speaking, it has been well reported that the nerves that make up the peripheral nervous system (the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord) have the ability to regenerate, while those within the central nervous system (CNS) generally do not. However, there is hope.
Does exercise help repair nerve damage?
Treatment options typically focus on pain relief and treating the underlying cause. However, studies show that exercise can effectively preserve nerve function and promote nerve regeneration.
What promotes nerve healing?
Magnesium promotes the regeneration of the peripheral nerve.
Is walking good for neuropathy in feet?
Walking can reduce the pain and other symptoms of neuropathy from the nerve damage in your feet and lower legs. Walking and other light aerobic exercises have various benefits for people affected by neuropathy, which is a wide range of conditions involving disease and damage to the peripheral nerves.
Can neuropathy in feet be reversed?
Can neuropathy be reversed? If the underlying cause of the neuropathy can be treated and cured (such as neuropathy caused by a vitamin deficiency), it's possible that the neuropathy can be reversed too.
Can nerves regrow?
When the spinal cord is injured, the damaged nerve fibers — called axons — are normally incapable of regrowth, leading to permanent loss of function.
Is nerve damage serious?
A nerve injury can affect your brain's ability to communicate with your 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.
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.
Can you live with neuropathy?
Treating 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.
Can anything be done 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.
How do you stop neuropathy from progressing?
How To Slow The Progression of Diabetic Neuropathies
- Losing weight.
- Exercising.
- Control blood sugar levels.
- Quit smoking.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
- Treat all injuries and infections right away.
- Improving vitamin deficiencies.
- Managing stress.