Author: Charles Frank

Alcoholic neuropathy: Causes, symptoms, and treatment

Symptoms of alcohol-related neuropathy are similar to those of peripheral neuropathy. These can affect both your controlled and involuntary movements, as well as sensations. Call for an appointment with your provider if you have symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy.

Treatment for alcoholic neuropathy

The symptoms may vary depending on their autonomic, sensory, and motor nerve damage. Research shows that most patients with alcoholic neuropathy displayed poor sensory features, numbness, and impaired sensation of vibrations. Only a small number of patients felt a weakness in the upper limbs. But, when caught in its early phases, patients can minimize nerve damage. If you stop consuming alcohol and work on your diet, you can achieve a full (or moderate) recovery. While taking supplements can help you manage your deficiencies.

A doctor may 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. However, they usually worsen over time as the neuropathy progresses. In an inpatient facility, you will cut off the alcohol consumption and allow the body to recover properly. These are the results you need when you want to manage neuropathy. The sooner you recognize the condition, the easier it is to treat it.

What is alcoholic neuropathy muscle weakness?

Motor nerves are the nerves responsible for all voluntary skeletal and somatic movement such as moving the leg or arm. We do not receive any fee or commission dependent upon which treatment or provider a caller chooses. Calls to numbers marked with (I) symbols will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed in our Terms and Conditions, each of which is a paid advertiser. 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. 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.

Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and expert in the field of brain health and neurological disorders. Symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy may be different for each individual. Some may experience only one symptom, while others experience several.

How Does the Recovery Process Feel Like?

A doctor may also recommend treatments to manage neurological symptoms, such as pain relief medications, physical therapy, and mobility aids. Alcoholic neuropathy is damage to the nerves that results from excessive drinking of alcohol. The damage may affect the autonomic nerves (those that regulate internal body functions) and the nerves that control movement and sensation. To prevent any additional nerve damage, drinkers must abstain from alcohol. If you are struggling with neuropathy, contact the best 90-day substance abuse treatment center for alcoholism in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.

The US National Library of Medicine (NLM) warns that around 50 percent of long-term heavy drinkers will suffer from alcoholic neuropathy. Medical News Today publishes that medical procedures and therapies, medications, and adjunctive and alternative therapies are commonly used to treat alcoholic polyneuropathy. Alcoholic polyneuropathy is progressive and gets worse over time, as the damage to the nerves increases with continued alcohol abuse.

Medicines may be needed to treat pain or uncomfortable sensations due to nerve damage. They will be prescribed the smallest dose of medicine needed to reduce symptoms. This may help prevent drug dependence and other side effects of chronic use. Alcoholic neuropathy is progressive damage to peripheral nerves and, in extreme cases, the autonomic nervous system, through chronic, heavy alcohol use. Medication can help reduce some of the symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy. The most important strategy against alcoholic neuropathy lies in preventing the symptoms from getting worse by decreasing alcohol consumption as soon as possible.

Other areas of the body

The problems that alcoholic neuropathy causes with muscle weakness, balance, and coordination can make a person more at risk for falling down and getting injured. Not being able to tell when things are too hot because of the way the nerve damage interferes with the ability to sense temperature changes can make one more susceptible to burns. In the same manner, numbness and lowered ability to feel pain sensations can make people more apt to cut themselves or otherwise damage the skin. Often, individuals may not even realize that they are burned or cut because they just don’t feel it, which can elevate the risk for infection. A medical detox program followed by a comprehensive alcohol rehab program can manage alcoholism and help a person to get sober and stay that way. Many alcohol rehab programs help to manage co-occurring disorders, such as alcoholic polyneuropathy.

Nutritional/vitamin deficiencies

1. If you’re struggling to control your drinking and worried about alcoholic neuropathy, help is available.
2. The pain can feel like burning, throbbing, or sharp pins and needles.
3. The condition progresses very slowly for months to years and almost always will affect the lower limbs.
4. The constant pain in the legs and arms will make it extremely difficult for people to function normally.

This condition may not be life-threatening, but if left untreated, it can cause permanent damage. The constant pain in the legs and arms will make it extremely difficult for people to function normally. Speak with a healthcare professional if you experience symptoms of alcohol-related neuropathy or are struggling to stop drinking.

About Medical News Today

Autonomic nerves are concerned with muscular functions which are reflexive, such as breathing, heartbeats and peristalsis (rhythmic movements of the intestines). When significantly limiting or stopping alcohol consumption, receiving ongoing support is essential. Symptoms that occur in the arms and legs typically affect both sides. 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.