Alcoholic Neuropathy: The Hidden Alcoholism Effect That Can Last a Lifetime

This will help reduce the impact of nerve damage and manage the condition. Studies show that alcoholic neuropathy could be the result of the direct toxic effect of alcohol or its metabolites and nutritional deficiencies (for example, thiamine deficiency). Damage to nerves from alcoholic neuropathy is usually permanent. It is likely to get worse if the person continues to use alcohol or if nutritional problems are not corrected. Alcoholic neuropathy is usually not life threatening, but it can severely affect quality of life.

Treatment / Management

A program that caters to co-occurring disorders ensures that the alcoholism is being treated and so are any other medical or mental health issues. Medical, mental health, and substance abuse providers all work together to form and is alcoholic neuropathy dangerous carry out a treatment plan that helps to manage all disorders at the same time. Alcoholic neuropathy is one of the most common adverse effects of chronic alcohol consumption.

• Instead, this test can point doctors and medical experts in the right direction.
• Here is how alcoholic neuropathy can affect your life, including viable treatment options.
• Unfortunately, patient compliance is poor, and the condition often progresses, leading to poor quality of life.
• ALN is characterized by spontaneous burning pain, hyperalgesia, and allodynia.

Causes and Symptoms

• Progression of the disease leads to symmetrical ascending motor and sensory deficits.
• Alcohol abuse treatment might lead to a resolution of neuropathic pain and alleviation of its symptoms.
• Alcoholic neuropathy, also known as alcoholic peripheral neuropathy, refers to damage of the nerves due to chronic and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Alcoholic neuropathy is progressive damage to peripheral nerves and, in extreme cases, the autonomic nervous system, through chronic, heavy alcohol use.
• The other problem with alcohol is that it is a diuretic, meaning it dries out the system.

Axons are the groups of nerve fibers that carry impulses between the brain and the nervous system. Sensory symptoms, caused by damage to sensory nerves, usually begin in the feet before progressing to the legs, hands, and arms. Usually, when sensory function becomes impaired above the ankle, they will also spread into the hands, a distribution known as the stocking-and-glove pattern.5 Symptoms also often develop symmetrically.

When to see a doctor

However, it is known to be directly related to heavy and long-term alcohol consumption. Overconsumption of alcohol may directly harm and hinder the nerves’ ability to communicate information from one body area to another. Yes, long-term excessive alcohol consumption may lead to peripheral neuropathy, which can cause pain in your feet. However, nerve damage is sometimes permanent, and your symptoms are likely to worsen if you don’t stop drinking.

Other Risk Factors

The way alcohol neuropathy is being managed presently is not satisfactory. Treatment is dependent on nutrition and abstinence from alcohol. However, there is poor compliance on the part of patients, resulting in the progression of the condition and ultimately, poor quality of life. Residual neuropathy occurs even in patients who have practiced abstinence.

Department of Health and Human Services’ Dietary Guidelines for alcohol consumption (one drink a day for women and two for men) doesn’t carry nearly any risk for developing this disease. Having said that, the general consensus is that alcoholic neuropathy develops in up to half of long-term heavy alcohol abusers. If you’ve been an alcoholic for 10 years or more, you’re at significant risk of developing this painful disorder. Generally, alcoholic neuropathy is a bit of an umbrella term used to describe any deterioration of the body’s nerve cells due to high levels of alcohol abuse. As such, you might be a bit confused if you hear the terms “alcoholic neuropathy” and “alcoholic polyneuropathy” used interchangeably.

Patients & Visitors

Here is a detailed overview of each option that can help diagnose the condition. There is a 6% to 51% prevalence rate of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic adults. When you consume a lot of alcohol, the nerves become even more vulnerable to damage. Because of this interruption, the feet and hands tend to feel weaker. But, when neuropathy affects the lower part of the body, these muscles will have poor organ control. That means you may experience intestine, stomach, and bladder problems.