Treatment For Alcoholic Neuropathy
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Apart from the pain and the weakness, the symptoms of neuropathy expose sufferers to risks due to imbalance the lack of being able to feel certain warning pains due to the nerve damage.
Although the first step is to stop drinking, the symptoms may persist until the neural disorder itself can be treated. Neurological tests and hospitalisation may be required to properly diagnose and start to recover from alcoholic neuropathy.
The risk of further, permanent neural damage increases with age and becomes worse when the person continues to drink, specialised care and talk therapy can help to get to what emotional factors are still driving the persistent use of alcohol however the cure for neuropathy stems from a more holistic approach which includes physical and biological factors.
How long it takes for alcoholic neuropathy to go away usually depends on how much damage has been done to the nervous system and how quickly you stop using alcohol and restore the right nutrients. Even though some damage may be permanent, alcoholic neuropathy can usually be cured sufficiently for a person to resume a normal life. If some permanent damage remains, then they can mitigate it with alleviating medication. The body has a remarkable ability to recover, however, it needs to get the right kind of support to enact full behaviour changes.
Stopping the alcohol consumption helps to restrict the damage to some degree, however it is always reccomended to speak to a medical professional about the required level of care. Hospitalisation to recover from neuropathy may be required to administer medication and nutritional supplements required by the body.
The neural disorder can return and cause more permanent damage if the patient continues to use alcohol. Continued alcohol use after a clinical diagnosis of alcoholic neuropathy not only extends the condition / recovery time may classify as an alcohol use disorder which in turn may require counseling from a qualified therapist to work through the drivers of the behaviour.
Immediate short-term medical treatment is needed to stop further damage to the nerves and to achieve the resumption of normal body and brain functions. This is done by stopping the drinking, getting medical advice and, most probably, submitting to hospital or care centre for treatment. Several medications can be used for soothing the normal withdrawal symptoms of alcohol. In the presence of neuropathy, this should be done under medical supervision.
After detoxification and the restoration of nutrients, some of the neuropathic symptoms will fade naturally, whilst others will require further medical treatment. In some cases, there may be permanent nerve damage. Long-term treatment includes eating a good diet and taking health supplements to preserve neural health.
After the medical phase, you will need counselling from therapists experienced in alcohol treatment to achieve long-term success. Neuropathic problems become worse as one age. People who attend treatment in a therapeutic community have better long-term success rates. Nothing will help for neuropathic damage, unless the main culprit, alcohol, is removed.
Of the many detrimental health effects of alcohol consumption, one of the most common and permanent effects is alcohol-induced neuropathy. Also known as peripheral neuropathy, this disorder arises due to excessive alcohol consumption causing nerve damage to the peripheral nerves in the human body. Peripheral nerves are responsible for transmitting signals between the body, spinal cord, and brain. Several vitamins, Thiamine, folate, niacin, and vitamins B6, B12, and E are all needed for peripheral nerves to function properly. Excessive alcohol consumption over a prolonged period depletes the body of vital nutrients and disrupts the way nerves acquire these nutrients.
The resulting damage of alcohol induced neuropathy can severely limit the function and capabilities of the peripheral nerves, and in some cases lead to permanent loss of function. It is estimated that somewhere around 65% of people in the United States who have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder also have alcoholic neuropathy.
The effects of alcoholic neuropathy fall into three main categories of symptoms: decreased sensation, pain and hypersensitivity, and muscle weakness. The prolonged damage to the nerves typically manifests itself in the peripheral extremities, or the hands and feet, and may extend up the limbs.
The first way that alcoholic neuropathy manifests itself is typically in dulled sensation and feeling in the hands and feet. It may not sound like the worst symptom, but the effects can severely impact your balance and ability to avoid bumping into things. With diminished abilities to feel your extremities, you will have trouble walking and grasping things. Additionally, you may injure your hands or feet and not notice until the wound has become infected. With diminished sensations, you can struggle to write, walk, type, or text, making daily tasks that much harder to accomplish.
Alcoholic neuropathy may also progress to painful and hypersensitive feelings in the hands, feet, and limbs. A light touch may hurt, or you may experience a constant feeling of pins and needles. This kind of pain is difficult to bear, but for those who have been drinking in excess, it can be a chronic condition. As it progresses, pain can vary in intensity. Severe alcoholic neuropathy will also result in muscle weakness. Our muscles need to receive messages from nerves to function properly, so when alcoholic neuropathy damages these nerves the muscles may not respond properly to stimulation. With muscle weakness comes a whole host of additional problems such as increased risk of injury, loss of bladder and bowel control, and sexual dysfunction.
For those who do stay sober, while recovery may not be 100% in most cases, the difference can be between constant pain and agony up to slightly bothersome and having bad days. Peripheral nerves are slow to heal for the same reason they are the first to fail. It is an ongoing process, and there will be setbacks, as well. Expecting them and not freaking out is key. Stress is your enemy, especially when suffering from neuropathy.
Nerves don't have a resilient ability to regenerate if they are severely damaged. The nerve damage of alcoholic neuropathy may be permanent if the damage has been taking place for a long period of time or if it persists.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Zeng L, Alongkronrusmee D, van Rijn RM. An integrated perspective on diabetic, alcoholic, and drug-induced neuropathy, etiology, and treatment in the US. J Pain Res. 2017;10:219-228. doi:10.2147/JPR.S125987
processing.... Drugs & Diseases > Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Alcoholic Neuropathy Medication Updated: Feb 01, 2021 Author: Scott R Laker, MD; Chief Editor: Robert H Meier, III, MD more... Share Print Feedback Close Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Email webmd.ads2.defineAd({id: 'ads-pos-421-sfp',pos: 421}); Sections Alcoholic Neuropathy Sections Alcoholic Neuropathy Overview Practice Essentials Pathophysiology Epidemiology Show All Presentation History Physical Causes Show All DDx Workup Laboratory Studies Imaging Studies Other Tests Show All Treatment Rehabilitation Program Medical Issues/Complications Surgical Intervention Consultations Other Treatment Show All Medication Medication Summary Anticonvulsants Tricyclic antidepressants Analgesic, Topical Show All Follow-up Further Outpatient Care Deterrence Complications Prognosis Patient Education Show All References Medication Medication Summary Painful dysesthesias associated with alcoholic neuropathy can be treated using gabapentin or amitriptyline as adjunct agents with other OTC pain medications, such as aspirin or acetaminophen.
Use of certain antiepileptic drugs, such as the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue gabapentin (Neurontin), has proven helpful in some cases of neuropathic pain. These drugs have central and peripheral anticholinergic effects, as well as sedative effects, and they block the active reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. The multifactorial mechanism of analgesia could include improved sleep, an altered perception of pain, and an increase in the pain threshold. Rarely should these drugs be used in the treatment of acute pain, because a few weeks may be required for them to become effective.
Alcoholic polyneuropathy is a neurological disorder in which peripheral nerves throughout the body malfunction simultaneously. It is defined by axonal degeneration in neurons of both the sensory and motor systems and initially occurs at the distal ends of the longest axons in the body. This nerve damage causes an individual to experience pain and motor weakness, first in the feet and hands and then progressing centrally. Alcoholic polyneuropathy is caused primarily by chronic alcoholism; however, vitamin deficiencies are also known to contribute to its development. This disease typically occurs in chronic alcoholics who have some sort of nutritional deficiency. Treatment may involve nutritional supplementation, pain management, and abstaining from alcohol.
An early warning sign (prodrome) of the possibility of developing alcoholic polyneuropathy, especially in a chronic alcoholic, would be weight loss because this usually signifies a nutritional deficiency that can lead to the development of the disease.[1] 781b155fdc