Nerve damage typically affects the axons, which are the projections that send electrical signals from one nerve to another. It also impacts the myelin, which is the fatty coating Drug rehabilitation that protects the nerves. Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and expert in the field of brain health and neurological disorders.
How long does alcoholic neuropathy take to develop?
Long-term heavy alcohol use can result in a disorder called alcohol-related neuropathy. Alcohol’s harmful effects can harm your peripheral nerves, which are involved in movement and feeling. If you struggle to quit drinking or have signs of alcohol-related neuropathy, consult a healthcare provider.
How Is Alcoholic Neuropathy Caused?
Alcoholic polyneuropathy is nerve damage to more than one nerve at a time in the body, causing a number of symptoms in different areas of the body. This condition is caused primarily by the toxic effects of alcohol on the nerves, coupled with nutritional deficiencies common in long-term alcohol use. Both the quantity and duration of alcohol consumption play a role in its development. 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.
- You may also have to work with healthcare professionals, including going to physical therapy on an ongoing basis.
- Two big ones are nutritional deficiencies that can occur with alcohol abuse and toxins in the body.
- Embracing these management strategies and seeking expert guidance can substantially improve your quality of life while navigating this difficult condition.
- Regular exercise can make the blood flow better, help the nerves grow back, and decrease things like pain and weak muscles.
- The medical establishment has acknowledged that addiction is a sickness and that certain individuals are more susceptible to it than others.
Signs Of Alcohol Use Disorder
Since nutritional deficiencies are partly to blame for alcoholic neuropathy. To combat these deficiencies, supplementation with vitamin B12, folate, vitamin E, and thiamine may be recommended. While not specifically approved for the treatment of alcoholic neuropathy, antidepressant medications are often prescribed to help control the pain. Anti-seizure medications are sometimes prescribed as a way to manage pain. Constant pain in the hands or feet is one of the most bothersome aspects of alcoholic neuropathy.
MENTAL HEALTH
If someone with alcohol neuropathy gets the right treatment and stops drinking alcohol, the illness will not get worse, and they can control the symptoms. Exercise can possibly aid people with alcoholic neuropathy by enhancing nerve health, muscle strength, and coordination. Regular exercise can make the blood flow better, help the nerves grow back, and decrease things like pain and weak muscles. Alcoholic neuropathy can be divided into mild, moderate, and severe stages. During the early stage, people might feel a sensation of pins and needles and a lack of feeling. The moderate stage means more pain, weaker muscles, and problems with coordination.
Differential diagnosis
- At the top 90-day drug rehab facility for alcoholism in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, an alcohol detox can be helpful in this situation.
- Though, depending on the severity and length of alcohol abuse, partial or full recoveries are possible.
- Outside of work, he divides his time between family, basketball, and rock climbing.
- Schwann cells can aid in the regeneration and functional restoration of injured nerves.
- The severity of the pain may fluctuate as the disease worsens, occasionally going away for months before getting worse again.
She holds a master’s in clinical psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy. 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.
If you’re struggling to control your drinking and worried about alcoholic neuropathy, help is available. For a list of rehabs and treatment centers near you, visit our rehab directory. It may be difficult for you or your loved one to stop drinking, even with a diagnosis of alcoholic neuropathy. If a person does not stop drinking, the issues connected to alcoholic neuropathy will fail to alcohol neuropathy recover and may become permanent.
Statistics reveal that peripheral neuropathy is present in approximately 30 to 65% of chronic alcoholics, particularly if they are frequent, heavy and continuous consumers of alcohol. Alcoholic neuropathy can be diagnosed by a physician based on a person’s current or past consumption of alcohol and vitamin deficiencies/nutritional deficiencies. Prioritize alcohol cessation, follow a healthy lifestyle, and adhere to prescribed treatments and therapies. Additionally, maintaining open communication with your healthcare provider, attending regular check-ups, and seeking emotional support can greatly enhance your overall well-being. Seek support from friends, family, or support groups to share experiences and emotions.
These manifestations are not just confined to physical discomfort; they seep into the nerves, causing a cascade of nerve-related side effects. Alcoholic neuropathy can cause problems with both movement and sensation in the body. The symptoms might be anything from minor discomfort to severe impairment. Although it is not life-threatening, the quality of life can be decreased in the individual. Sensory symptoms, caused by damage to sensory nerves, usually begin in the feet before progressing to the legs, hands, and arms.
Alcoholic Neuropathy: What is It and Who is At Risk?
We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. 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.