Alcoholic Neuropathy: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Thiamine, also known as the antiberiberi factor or antineuritic factor, is an essential vitamin in the metabolism of pyruvate and has a role in the health of the peripheral nervous system. Thiamine deficiency is commonly found in alcoholic patients, due to decreased absorption and hepatic depletion. Other studies have linked the direct toxic effects of alcohol on peripheral nerves with development of neuropathy. A combination of nutritional deficiency and direct toxicity is likely involved in the pathogenesis of Alcohol Use Disorder alcoholic neuropathy, and these effects may be additive.

• However, stopping consuming alcohol sooner can help stop the progression of nerve damage.
• Both the quantity and duration of alcohol consumption play a role in its development.
• Gradually, as the body gets left without these nutrients, its functions deteriorate, and the nerves might get damaged as a result.
• On the other end of the spectrum, alcohol neuropathy can cause constant pain in limbs where the nerve is affected.
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Alcoholic Neuropathy Treatment

Western immunoblot analysis indicated a higher level of PKCε in dorsal root ganglia from alcohol-fed rats, supporting a role for enhanced PKCε second messenger signalling in nociceptors contributing to alcohol-induced hyperalgesia 16. Miyoshi et al. 15 found that a significant decrease in the mechanical nociceptive threshold was observed after 5 weeks of chronic ethanol consumption in rats. Injection of (S)-2,6-diamino-N-1-(oxotridecyl)-2-piperidinylmethyl hexanamide dihydrochloride (NPC15437), a selective PKC inhibitor, once a day for a week after 4 weeks of ethanol treatment. Moreover, phosphorylated PKC was significantly increased in the spinal cord following chronic ethanol consumption. These findings constitute direct evidence that spinal PKC plays a substantial role in the development and maintenance of an ethanol-dependent neuropathic pain-like state in rats.

• That’s how various injuries and potentially severe health problems can happen.
• From there, you can work with your healthcare team to determine the best treatment plan based on the severity of your condition.
• However, nerve damage is sometimes permanent, and your symptoms are likely to worsen if you don’t stop drinking.
• Since nutritional deficiencies are partly to blame for alcoholic neuropathy.
• Because of the many effects that alcohol has on the organism, it is important that patients with alcoholic neuropathy be managed by a team of inter-professionals in the health industry.

Relationship between alcoholic neuropathy and thiamine deficient neuropathy

To combat these deficiencies, supplementation with vitamin B12, folate, vitamin E, and thiamine may be recommended. If the sensation is decreased enough, you may feel actual numbness after drinking alcohol. Preventing alcoholic neuropathy is fundamentally about managing our alcohol intake. It’s about understanding the role alcohol plays in our lives and finding healthier alternatives to cope with stress, socialize, and relax.

Alcoholic Neuropathy: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Damage to the nerves leads to unusual sensations in the limbs, reduced mobility, and loss of some bodily functions. The most important strategy against alcoholic neuropathy lies in preventing the symptoms from getting worse by decreasing alcohol consumption as soon as possible. Nerves don’t have a resilient ability to regenerate if they are severely damaged. So, the nerve damage of alcoholic neuropathy is generally permanent and likely https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to worsen if the person does not stop drinking.

Neurological Effects of Alcohol

Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being. Alcoholic neuropathy might sound frightening, but understanding its symptoms, treatments, and the importance of prevention puts you in control Each action step, though small, is a leap towards a healthier, more fulfilling life. At Zinnia Health, we know that addiction is a mental health condition, and that’s why we’re determined to help individuals overcome it through support groups, proven alcohol neuropathy stages therapies, and a holistic approach to wellness. If you are experiencing weakness, reduced muscle function, or control, you may be given orthopedic appliances to improve your stability.

• Overconsumption of alcohol may directly harm and hinder the nerves’ ability to communicate information from one body area to another.
• Nevertheless, heavy alcohol drinkers are usually significantly malnourished because of the improperly balanced diet and impaired absorption of the essential nutrients and elements 58, 59.
• Reversing the condition includes having a good, healthy diet full of supplements and nutrients to replace the lost nutrients over the years.

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.

Thiamine deficiency, coupled with the toxic effects of alcohol on nerve tissue, leads to the deterioration of nerve health and function. Alcohol also contributes to liver damage, impairing the body’s ability to absorb and utilize vital nutrients. Deficiency of vitamins other than thiamine may also contribute to clinical features of alcoholic neuropathy. Chronic alcoholism can alter the intake, absorption and utilization of various nutrients (nicotinic acid, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate or vitamin E). Thus, these vitamin deficiencies were not considered to be major causal factors of neuropathy 26. Clinical features of alcoholic peripheral neuropathy develop slowly, extending over a period of months and include abnormalities in sensory, motor, autonomic and gait functions.