Alcoholic Neuropathy: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

With the right approach and support, we can achieve significant improvements in our symptoms and quality of life. Alcoholic neuropathy damages the nerves due to prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption. This damage prevents the nerves from communicating information from one body area to another. Sometimes alcohol causes such severe damage to the body that a liver transplant may be necessary. A doctor may diagnose a person with alcoholic neuropathy, if alcohol use has damaged the peripheral nerves. People who drink heavily on a regular basis are at risk of developing this condition.

• To get rid of dependency, the best option would be the intervention of doctors in your health.
• For the nerves to function properly, the body needs a stable balance of chemicals and salts in the blood.
• It’s impossible to pinpoint the exact amount of alcohol intake that could cause alcoholic neuropathy.
• But, the pain is not the only troublesome aspect of alcohol-related neuropathy.
• For example, you might run your hand along a smooth surface, but your brain can’t recognize that sensation—or allow you to actually “feel” it—without the information it receives from your peripheral nerves.
• PKC is involved in receptor desensitization, modulating membrane structure events, regulating transcription, mediating immune responses, regulating cell growth and in learning and memory.

DANNY SAN FILIPPO – Clinical Director

Treatment for alcoholic neuropathy first focuses on stopping or significantly reducing alcohol intake. A doctor may alcoholism symptoms also want to test the functioning of the kidneys, liver, and thyroid. In addition, they may order blood tests to check for vitamin and nutrient deficiencies.

• Alcoholic neuropathy has many of the same symptoms as peripheral neuropathy.
• Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and expert in the field of brain health and neurological disorders.
• Chanel describes herself as a humanistic therapist focused on building rapport and trust.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment plan to start on your road to recovery.
• She enjoys playing board games and having home karaoke nights with her friends.

KARLIE ROSHONG – Clinical Manager

Additionally, she has a master’s in holistic wellness and is trained in EMDR therapy for both in-person and virtual settings. Kathleen has more than 15 years of experience treating people who have a substance use disorder. Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCV) will then be necessary to assess, not the cause of the prospective neuropathy, but the severity of the nerve damage. Some experts believe it has more to do with the alcohol’s activation of mGlue5 receptors, or perhaps its ability to trigger the sympathoadrenal and hypothalami-pituitary-adrenal axis. With a quick reaction, you can lessen the overall damage to the nerve cells. So, you will only have to deal with alcohol withdrawal, which is a smaller price to pay.

• Lauren Smith has worked as a journalist and copywriter for the last decade, covering a range of topics including health, energy, and technology in the US and UK.
• Alcohol causes neuropathy via multifactorial processes, many of which are still under investigation.
• By Heidi Moawad, MDHeidi Moawad is a neurologist and expert in the field of brain health and neurological disorders.
• If you notice you are developing signs of alcoholic neuropathy (such as numbness after drinking alcohol), in addition to seeing a physician, try to stay away from alcohol altogether.

Join a Support Group

Seeking help for addiction may seem daunting and possibly even scary, but there are several organizations that can provide support. As axons break down, the nerve fibers become less dense and cannot function properly. Outside AspenRidge, Jordan enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and playing volleyball and soccer.

Alcoholism and Nerve Damage: The Takeaways

• Ensuring proper nutrition will aid in minimizing the damage and enhance the recovery process.
• Kathleen has more than 15 years of experience treating people who have a substance use disorder.
• Axons are the groups of nerve fibers that carry impulses between the brain and the nervous system.
• However, we also offer an empathetic ear and tons of treatment-related insight to help get you on the road to recovery.
• Supplementation with benfotiamine significantly increased concentrations of TDP and total thiamine compared with supplementation with thiamine HCl 96.
• Alcoholic neuropathy generally only develops in those who have drank excessively for a considerable amount of time.

Nerve damage, in general, is a difficult condition to bounce back from. Though, depending on the severity and length of alcohol abuse, partial or full recoveries are possible. It can cause chronic pain, problems with normal https://ecosoberhouse.com/ bodily functions, and in severe cases even disability. According to clinical reports, muscle weakness can have a serious long-term effect.

Differential Diagnosis

Alcoholic neuropathy, also known as alcoholic peripheral neuropathy, refers to damage of the nerves due to chronic and excessive alcohol consumption. Affected nerves include the peripheral nerves, primarily located in the arms and legs, and the autonomic nerves, which help regulate our internal body functions. About 46% of chronic alcohol users will eventually develop this condition. Long-term heavy alcohol use, particularly when accompanied by nutritional deficiencies, can damage the body’s nerves, leading to a host of painful and debilitating symptoms. Alcoholic neuropathy can affect both sensory and motor nerves, causing pain, hypersensitivity, numbness, muscle weakness, and lack of coordination and fine motor controls, largely in the extremities.

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol-related neuropathy or alcohol misuse or addiction, it’s important to know that help is available. Evidence-based addiction treatment can lead to positive health outcomes for those struggling with alcohol addiction. If you or a loved one is ready to seek help, consider visiting the rehabs.com treatment directory. This powerful online resource can connect you with treatment facilities from around the country. Early alcoholic neuropathy, usually presenting as sensory symptoms in the extremities, is reversible if the patient stops drinking and establishes proper nutrition. However, more severe and prolonged cases may be irreversible, even with abstinence, and lead to lifelong impairment.

Motor symptoms

Chronic, what does alcoholic neuropathy feel like heavy alcohol use can adversely impact several organ systems throughout the body, including the central nervous system (CNS). The first and most crucial step towards recovering from alcoholic neuropathy is to abstain from alcohol. Completely avoiding alcohol is essential for preventing further nerve damage and fostering recovery. In some cases, individuals might benefit from entering an alcohol use disorder treatment program that focuses on managing heavy alcohol use.

Alcohol and Mental Health

Lauren Smith has worked as a journalist and copywriter for the last decade, covering a range of topics including health, energy, and technology in the US and UK. Motor nerves are the nerves responsible for all voluntary skeletal and somatic movement such as moving the leg or arm. While we are unable to respond to your feedback directly, we’ll use this information to improve our online help. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Alcohol abuse also has important effects that relate to human nutrition.