Alcoholic Neuropathy: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Comprising experienced therapists, medical experts, and dedicated support staff, this team brings a wealth of knowledge and compassionate insight into the complexities of addiction and recovery. Their collective expertise shines through in each article, offering readers valuable guidance, the latest in addiction science, and inspiring stories of healing and transformation. The Grove Editorial Team is committed to educating, supporting, and empowering individuals and families on their journey toward a healthier, substance-free what is Oxford House life. I just realized last night that I haven’t woken up to numb fingers in a few weeks. I was only drinking on weekends recently instead of the daily drinking I did for over a decade so how could it be from alcohol?? Stupid brain always trying to find other reasons for health issues.

Risk factors

Verywell acknowledges that a private nurse or caretaker may not be feasible for everyone and that readers do not have uniform access to safe, affordable, high-quality health care. The most important thing you can do to treat alcohol-related neuropathy is to stop consuming alcohol.

• This could lead to disability, chronic pain, and damage to your arms and legs.
• Common identifiable causes include diabetes mellitus, nerve compression or injury, alcohol use, toxin exposure, hereditary diseases, and nutritional deficiencies.
• Alarmingly, up to 50% of long-term heavy drinkers develop some form of neuropathy, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
• While peripheral neuropathy generally cannot be cured, there are several medical treatments that can be used to manage the pain of alcoholic neuropathy, aiding in your recovery.
• Maintaining proper hydration throughout the day is essential for lowering inflammation and preventing pain receptor activation.

Treatment

Skin biopsies may also be considered in patients with a burning sensation, numbness, and pain. Autonomic testing and skin biopsies capture small, unmyelinated nerve fibers and can be important to a neurologist looking for a specific pathology early in the course of a disease. Symmetrical peripheral neuropathy can be further classified as distal or proximal. Less common patterns of peripheral neuropathy involve the cranial nerves, autonomic nerves, and nerves of the upper extremities. It is important to differentiate peripheral neuropathy from other disorders with similar presentations and to identify and address potential causes. Alcoholic neuropathy can be treated, and if it’s caught early enough, it can be partially or fully reversed.

How Long Does Alcoholic Neuropathy Take to Develop?

By quitting alcohol, improving nutrition, managing pain, and staying active, people with alcoholic neuropathy can regain control over their health. These alcohol rehab centers can help individuals safely quit drinking and manage alcoholic neuropathy symptoms. Taking a tour of a rehab facility can help you explore the best recovery options for your needs. A blood chemistry test does not directly show if someone has alcoholic neuropathy. Instead, this test can point doctors and medical experts in the right direction. It looks at things like liver and kidney functions and blood sugar levels.

• It’s such a common issue that 25% to 66% of chronic alcohol drinkers have some kind of neuropathy.
• This comprehensive care is essential for maximizing recovery and improving the quality of life for individuals with alcoholic neuropathy.
• Genetic factors may also play a role, making some individuals more prone to alcohol-related nerve damage than others.

During this test, the electrical activity in your nerves is measured by stimulating areas of concern. You may be asked to move your arms or legs during the test to provide additional information on how your muscles and nerves are responding. Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes and exposure to toxins.

Nutritional Deficiency

• Sometimes, the variation in discomfort can occur without any pattern.
• Medical, mental health, and substance abuse providers all work together to form and carry out a treatment plan that helps to manage all disorders at the same time.
• Regular monitoring and an adherence to treatment plans can speed up recovery times and ensure a better quality of life.

Managing both alcohol drinking and blood sugar levels is crucial for individuals with both alcoholism and diabetes to prevent further nerve damage. As mentioned above, recovery from alcoholic neuropathy is not assured. Some people experience complete relief from their symptoms in a number of weeks or years and others may have to cope with the effects for the rest of their lives. The most notable common thread for nearly all sufferers is that the sooner you seek help for your neuropathy from alcohol dependence, the less the overall damage is likely to be.

What is a Alcoholic Neuropathy?

Alcoholic neuropathy can be categorized into different stages based on the progression and severity of nerve damage. Is a private faith-based and gender-separate rehab center located in Azle, Texas. We offer long-term residential addiction treatment for men and women struggling with drug & alcohol addiction. Our drug and alcohol addiction treatment center serves the communities of Azle, Fort Worth, Dallas, and as far as Oklahoma and New Mexico. The alcohol hinders the body’s ability to filter out poisons, chemicals, and other potentially dangerous elements, therefore damaging the kidneys. The other problem with alcohol is that it is a diuretic, meaning it dries out the system.

Understanding the link between alcohol and nerve damage is essential for those who have experienced or are currently struggling with alcohol addiction. 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.

Stop Drinking Alcohol

Over time, the cumulative effect of these deficiencies and the toxic impact of alcohol leads to the development of alcoholic neuropathy. Addressing these issues through comprehensive treatment is essential for managing the condition and improving the overall well-being of those affected. As alcoholic numbness gets worse, it can make it harder to move around and affect daily life. Stopping alcohol use and getting the alcohol neuropathy in the fingertips right vitamins can help manage these symptoms and may improve nerve health.

Alcohol and Health

With the lack of proteins comes a terrible imbalance, resulting in a disturbance in lipid and protein metabolism. Over time it gradually starts to affect shorter nerves, so feels as if it’s spreading upwards, and later affects the hands. Peripheral neuropathy may affect the nerves controlling the automatic functions of the heart and circulation system (cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy). Some cases may improve with time if the underlying cause is treated, whereas in some people the damage may be permanent or may get gradually worse with time.