Understanding Alcohol Neuropathy

If you’ve ever experienced a tingling sensation, numbness, or a burning pain in your hands or feet after a night of heavy drinking, it could be a sign that you’re experiencing the early signs of alcohol neuropathy.

This blog explores alcoholic neuropathy and the consequences of alcohol abuse, highlighting the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy, the reasons why alcohol causes this condition, the signs and symptoms to look out for, ways to manage the condition, and strategies to prevent alcoholic neuropathy.

 

What is Alcohol Neuropathy?

Alcoholic neuropathy is a condition that affects the nerves in your body, and it’s caused by chronic alcohol consumption. It’s a condition associated with alcohol addiction, but it can also occur in people who have consumed excessive amounts of alcohol over a prolonged period of time.

When a person engages in excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time, it can harm their nerves in a couple of ways. Alcohol itself can directly damage the nerves, and it can also interfere with our ability to absorb important nutrients. Without these nutrients, the nerves can become weak and damaged.

 

Alcohol Neuropathy vs. Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy occurs when the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are damaged, and this condition can develop for many reasons, such as diabetes, infections, injuries, some medicines, or diseases. However, the symptoms are the same as alcoholic neuropathy: pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness, all in the affected areas.

Alcohol neuropathy is a possible cause or subtype of peripheral neuropathy.

Treating alcoholic neuropathy means stopping drinking and making other significant lifestyle changes, and treating peripheral neuropathy means fixing the problem that is causing the nerve damage, such as controlling diabetes or changing medicines causing the condition.

 

How Common is Alcohol Neuropathy?

According to a recent study, 46.3% of people who consistently and heavily drink develop alcoholic neuropathy.

Many other research studies into alcoholic neuropathy have had similar findings, with results showing that around half of those who engage in excessive alcohol consumption over the course of their lives will go on to develop this condition.

Who Does it Affect?

While alcoholic neuropathy can affect anyone, it is more commonly found in those who are aged between 40 and 60 and females, which is due to greater nerve conduction abnormalities.

Alcoholic neuropathy also poses risks in the form of prenatal exposure or family history, as those who have a parental history of alcoholism are more likely to develop alcoholic peripheral neuropathy.

 

What are the Symptoms of Alcohol Neuropathy?

There are many signs and symptoms that are associated with alcohol neuropathy. Some of the main indicators include (but aren’t limited to):

• Numbness and Tingling: This can be a tingling feeling, like pins and needles, or just numbness.
• Pain: You may feel burning, sharp, or aching pain in your hands, feet, arms, or legs, ranging from mild to severe.
• Weak Muscles: Your muscles might feel weak, making it hard to lift things or walk.
• Balance Problems: Numbness and pain might make you feel unsteady when walking or doing anything that requires your hands, such as writing, typing or cooking.
• Digestive Problems: Alcoholic neuropathy can also affect the nerves that help with digestion. This can make some people feel sick, have heartburn, or have trouble with bowel movements.
• Sensitivity to Touch: Sometimes, even a light touch can cause pain, or you might feel more pain than normal from things that usually don’t hurt.
• Difficulty Moving: Your movements might become clumsy or slower than usual because the nerves that control your muscles aren’t working properly.
• Urinary Problems: You might have trouble controlling your bladder. This can lead to frequent urination or finding it difficult to urinate.
• Blood Pressure Changes: Nerve damage can affect how your body controls blood pressure, making you feel dizzy or lightheaded.

 

Why Does Alcohol Cause Peripheral Neuropathy?

Alcohol can cause peripheral neuropathy because it is toxic to nerve cells.

When someone drinks a lot of alcohol over a long period, the alcohol can damage the nerves directly. It also affects the body’s ability to absorb important nutrients, which our bodies need for nerve health.

Without these nutrients, nerves can become weak and damaged. This damage can lead to alcohol neuropathy symptoms presenting themselves. So, heavy and long-term drinking harms the nerves both directly and indirectly, leading to alcohol-induced peripheral neuropathy.

 

How is Alcohol Neuropathy Diagnosed, and What Treatment Options Are There?

Diagnosing alcohol neuropathy involves a few steps to understand the specific symptoms an individual is experiencing, along with their previous medical history.

A doctor will typically start by asking for information on drinking habits and any symptoms you are experiencing, such as numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands and feet. They may also ask about your overall health and any other conditions you have.

Your reflexes, muscle strength, and sensitivity to touch will also be checked. This helps with forming an understanding of how well your nerves are working.

Sometimes, additional tests are needed to be certain that it’s alcohol neuropathy. These may include:

• Blood tests: To check for vitamin deficiencies or other conditions that might cause similar symptoms.
• Nerve conduction studies: To measure how well electrical signals travel through your nerves.
• Electromyography (EMG): To see how your muscles respond to electrical signals from your nerves.

Treatment for Alcoholic Neuropathy

After a diagnosis is confirmed, the focus shifts to treatment. The main goal is to stop the progression of the damage and manage symptoms. Here are the common approaches:

• Sobriety: The most important step is to stop drinking alcohol. This will help to prevent any further nerve damage and sometimes improve symptoms.
• Nutritional support: Eating a balanced diet and taking vitamin supplements, especially B vitamins, can help repair nerve damage and improve your overall health.
• Pain management: Medications can help manage the pain. These might include pain relievers or medications specifically for nerve pain.
• Physical therapy: Exercises can help strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and reduce pain.
• Support groups: If you are in recovery from alcohol addiction, these meetings provide emotional support and help you stay committed to quitting alcohol.

 

How to Prevent Alcoholic Neuropathy

To reduce the chance of alcoholic neuropathy, limiting your alcohol intake or quitting altogether can be beneficial.

Keeping to a healthy diet is important, so try to eat a balanced diet that’s rich in fruit, vegetables and proteins. Exercise is always a good idea, as physical activity can improve blood flow and nerve health.

Avoid smoking to reduce the risk of nerve damage and consider taking vitamins like B1 and other B vitamins, as these are often depleted with alcohol consumption.

 

Struggling to Cut Back?

Making significant life changes doesn’t happen overnight. If you want to stop drinking alcohol, you don’t have to do it alone.

At Cassiobury Court, we have years of experience treating alcohol addiction in a range of different circumstances. If you think you might have an alcohol dependence, proper treatment can give you long-term contingency plans as well as a qualified support system to help you along the way. Get support from our team today to further discuss your options or call us directly on 08000014070.