Can people with Guillain-Barre Syndrome work? What kind of work can they perform?

It depends on the extent of recovery and what the functional level of the person is. Any residual weakness or residual disability can also have an affect on the individual's work. For example, some people can only work a few hours per day due to poor physical endurance and fatigue. Some people are better at working in more sedentary jobs (e.g. office jobs) which are less physically demanding. If an individual wants to return to a physically demanding job, that individual's physical strength needs to have recovered to the extent that he or she can handle the physical requirements of the job (eg lifting heavy objects, being on one's feet all day, etc)

4/26/17 by AM 1211

Yes, I did retire from my job because I had the years in and it was a physical job. I now sell Real Estate.

4/26/17 by james ventura 1501

Yes, In most cases you can work and get back to normal, it all depends on how severely your Guillain-Barre Syndrome is. I have heard about sever cases where people has been permanently wheelchair bound.

4/27/17 by Totta 1181

If I had a physical job I believe it would be extremely difficult for me daily to function. I did briefly work as a waitress after getting sick and couldn't do the long hours on my feet I would leave barley being able to walk again so I had to quit. I am currently in school full time for my Masters in Social Work, I plan on being a therapist.

4/27/17 by Gabrielle 600

depends on the lasting disabilities and severety of over all physical and mental damage70+%

5/9/17 by Bob 1650

Yes they can go back to their normal lives. For starters choose the desk jobs that does not need to move around. House work. The percentageis 80 percent.

9/3/17 by James 2825

Yes. Depending on what it is. Our mind is still good even if w are paralysed. If speech is affected then that could make it hard. Physical work would be hard I know for me while paralysed the only work I could do would have been an job with a computer and no movig around

9/9/17 by Amy 500

Post Guillain Barre most people can still work effectively in any field depending upon their recovery and nerve damage

9/9/17 by Barb 1100

Everyone is different and it depends on recovery. Some people recovery completely and can do anything others never will work again

9/10/17 by Connie 2000

Hard question , we just don't know from day to day . Home based work I think would be best . I think only a small percentage can work in any field 10%

9/10/17 by Rex McKinley 1200

Depend how they recover from it. In my case no

9/10/17 by Debra 2000

It depends on the extent of recovery and what the functional level of the person is. Any residual weakness or residual disability can also have an affect on the individual's work. For example, some people can only work a few hours per day due to poor physical endurance and fatigue. Some people are better at working in more sedentary jobs (e.g. office jobs) which are less physically demanding. If an individual wants to return to a physically demanding job, that individual's physical strength needs to have recovered to the extent that he or she can handle the physical requirements of the job (eg lifting heavy objects, being on one's feet all day, etc)

9/11/17 by Ysor 504

yes. The serverity of the disease differs form one person to another.

9/11/17 by Judi 869

The ability of a GBS patient to work is an issue determined by health professionals, based on numerous factors, on a case-by-case basis. I think the ability to work during GBS recovery depends on the physical job requirements & the recovery condition of the patient. The ability of our bodies to heal & recover vary greatly due to age, degree of peripheral nervous system damage, physical condition of patient prior to GBS onset, & many other factors. I was saddened to read that older patients (I was 64 at onset) tend to have less positive recovery outcomes. Mine was a mild case, yet severe to me in how it impacted my active lifestyle. Many like myself experienced damage sufficient that I had to relearn to walk. Early issues include weakness, poor balance, frequent severe fatigue, extremity numbness, & severe neuropathy, especially in the feet, but frequently elsewhere. I understand many are unable to return to work during recovery, which can take months to years. Some seem to remain disabled for years or permanently. Certainly the physical labor-intensive jobs are more challenging than an intellectually-intensive one.

9/11/17 by Denny 2300

Some can and some can not. It depends on the severity of your condition once the symptoms remit. One can do just about any job they want, especially if all the symptoms remit.

10/1/17 by John 2070

Due to weakness and fatigue I am useless at performing tasks quickly or repeatedly. A simple walk to the corner shop can leave me flat out on the settie in pain. For me a paid job would be impossible. Very frustrating as I spent 20 years building a career up. But the condition may affect people different so there may be people at work after Guillain barre syndrome has hit them.

10/25/17 by Chris 900

I can only speak for myself but I am unable to work. It is hard to feel my hands,arms, lower extremities for any length of time and my brain concentration and short term memory.

10/27/17 by Amy 500

Yes, many people return to work. Depends on the severity of the nerve damage Many recover fully, some only recover partially and sadly, some succumb to the illness

10/28/17 by Kath Donaldson 2065

It depends oh the extent of the fatigue but generally yes they can go back to work they may just need to make modifications to their job if they are left with any disabilities or weakness.

10/28/17 by Holly 1400

During the acute phase of the illness, regular work is not advised nor possible in most cases. Afterwards it depends on both, the state of recovery and type of work. Highly individual. Good outlook in general.

11/18/17 by Orangandi 950

This all depends on how far you are in recovery, and if you are left with residual weakness. I teach full time, but have days when I’m exhausted. Fatigue and muscle pain are the worst things for me but I feel fortunate to walk and live a pretty normal life. Some people have relapsing episodes and find work to be very difficult.

1/26/18 by Tracey 1100

In your opinion, do you think people with Guillain-Barre Syndrome can work in any field? It depends if they were affected badly. Or are there some fields they should not/could not carry out? Once again,... it depends. What percentage of people with Guillain-Barre Syndrome do you think work in any field? I do not know.

4/2/18 by SurfNYC 2681

Yes there is no reason why eventually you can't led a normal life. I will be harder than everyone else as the tiredness in the first few years after is tough. But it does get better slowly or you just adapt to a new way of life that is harder than before.

6/4/18 by Carl 400

I think that it depends on how affected the individual is and what work they are doing. I don’t believe that I can give a percentage because this disease is so individualized. It affects everyone differently and to a different degree.

9/8/19 by Tara32473 2570

Yes they can work. They can do any type of work their body allows. Each person has different types of symptoms which may or may not limit their abilities

9/9/19 by Joe Wojtanowski 2500

Sometimes yes! For now only part time for me

5/3/20 by Gail 400

Med Amsan är svaret ingenting

5/20/21 by Staffan 300

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If you can work. It always depends on the type of sequelae that have been, if there were consequences

4/27/17 by Adriana. Translated

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I think that in 90% of patients who have suffered from this syndrome come to a recovery of above 70%, which gives a high percentage to work everyday

4/27/17 by Carolina. Translated

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They can work but you have to assess how committed is the agency

4/27/17 by Alejandra. Translated

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May not work in the beginning, then with time and a lot of rehabilitation can make it work liabilities

4/27/17 by Analia. Translated

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If you can, after it is retrieved. Most people recover in about 90%. Then, will depend on the kind of sequel that you may have.

5/19/17 by Sabrina. Translated

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When they made their respective treatment it is best to come back as one can to a normal life which the work if it can be done but it depends on where you have been affected or have been sequels can vary their work

6/4/17 by Alejo. Translated

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Depends on the disability, I do not have strength in my Hands or feet, you may be attending public

9/10/17 by Marta. Translated

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It depends on the way this syndrome has exacerbated the person, because there are people q has the variants thereof, and do not return to walking , so it depends on each body , each retrieval, not to say yes or no cuz the recovery for each is complete for others not, as well as the time q takes to be fully restored.

9/14/17 by RARIANA. Translated

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It all depends on the severity of the syndrome and sequelae. It is thus necessary to adapt its use according to its new physical abilities.

10/19/17 by Nicolas. Translated

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If you can work always and when do not have been affected by full

10/24/17 by Luisina. Translated