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The Women Who Suffer Neuropathic Diseases - What is to be done?

© Les Abrams

Author's Opening Note: This week a series of randomly appearing articles begins, about the problems encountered by the women who suffer from one or more neuropathic diseases. The effects of the disease upon them as individuals, there lives, their professions, their families, and their outlook on life and other issues. What is being demonstrated here is that the position of such women appears at best - to be entirely hopeless - from the woman's point of view. Even though statistically impossible as it is to gather information regarding the true effects of the disease and all of its ramifications, it is possible to make reasonable conjecture regarding the possibility that such women may become suicide victims.

INTRODUCTION

One of the greatest tragedies today is the number of women that have and are still suffering from any of the peripheral nervous system neuropathic diseases. These women - ranging in age from teenagers to their mid-forties - are struck down in mid-stride by these diseases. These women lose their careers, many lose their marriages and families. Still others may remain in a family milieu but lose their connectivity and become isolated and even despised and eventually treated in a most derogatory manner.

The most tragic aspect of the typical neuropathic disease is that the patient shows neither outward signs of illness nor any effect therefrom. At present - there is no provision or any agency for the support of women so afflicted - to educate their mates and family members as to the nature of their disease and the effects that it has on the one who suffers from it. This is a much needed organization and it behooves the several support groups for victims of RSD and Diabetic Neuropathy (to name just two of the neuropathies) to unite in their efforts to establish a nation-wide organization or federation of such organizations.

Women and Neuropathic Disease

Of all who suffer peripheral nervous system neuropathic disease - 70 to 80 percent are women. While there is as of yet - no specific information to explain this phenomenon - there appears to be a possibly X-chromosome link to the propensity for this group of diseases - the neuropathies. Many of the central nervous system neuropathies are genetically linked. But far fewer of the peripheral nervous system neuropathies are so linked.

Doctors by and large treat female patients somewhat differently from the way that they treat male patients. This may be - at bottom - the product of our current societal values but it is a major contribution to the distress of the female patients. Most - not all - doctors tend to appear not to take seriously the description of symptoms and complaints of women. This is especially true if the doctor is not very competent - or is uncertain of his qualifications - in his field of practice.

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