Without treatment, alcohol-induced effects can cause permanent damage and severely affect the quality of life. The alcohol related neuropathy nerves that run outside of the spinal cord and brain are called peripheral nerves. They work to send signals throughout the central nervous system and the rest of the body. Nerves help you to move (motor nerves) and feel physical sensations (sensory nerves). Some of your bodily functions are autonomic, which means that you don’t directly control them.

Nerve conduction studies and electromyography

The authors noted that Danish beer at the time of the study contained thiamine and vitamin B6. Thus, deficiency of these vitamins was felt to be unlikely in Danish beer drinkers at that time and, Alcohol Use Disorder indeed, measured vitamin concentrations were mostly normal. Clinical features of neuropathies in the alcoholic and post gastrectomy patients were similar. These two groups, however, were distinct from the standpoint that nerve conduction velocities were slower and sural nerve biopsy specimens revealed more segmental demyelination in the post gastrectomy group. The authors concluded that malnutrition, including low blood concentrations of B vitamins, is not a prerequisite for the development of alcoholic neuropathy, and ethanol per se plays a role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic neuropathy.

The application of N-acetylcysteine for peripheral neuropathy

A person who drinks excessively over a long period might develop alcoholic neuropathy, which can be debilitating when left untreated. Izumi et al. 73 also demonstrated that a single day of ethanol exposure in rats on post natal day 7 results in significant apoptotic neuronal damage throughout the forebrain after 24 h of ethanol administration. Thus, it is quite possible that chronic alcohol consumption is responsible for inducing neuropathy by activation of the caspase cascade and may be an important target for the treatment of alcoholic neuropathy. Electrical nerve stimulation sends a small electrical current through the skin and nerves that can help with sensitivities and pain, making it an option for treatment. Alternative therapies like chiropractic care, body manipulation, acupuncture, meditation, and massage therapy can be helpful in managing pain and symptoms of alcoholic polyneuropathy.

Vitamins

If you are experiencing weakness, reduced muscle function, or control, you may be given orthopedic appliances to improve your stability. You’ll likely also be asked to participate in physical therapy to help regain and maintain your strength. Symptoms can include numbness in hands and feet, digestive issues, and loss of balance due to loss of nerve function. Changes in muscle strength or sensation usually occur on both sides of the body and are more common in the legs than in the arms. Based upon these results, vitamin supplementation appears to exert a positive therapeutic effect in alcohol-related neuropathy. The mechanism of this is presently unclear, one possible explanation is that is resolves concomitant vitamin-dependent neuropathy which exacerbates alcohol-related neuropathy.

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. Behse & Buchthal 31 compared 37 Danish patients with alcoholic neuropathy with six patients with nonalcoholic post gastrectomy polyneuropathy.

What Are the Effects of Alcoholic Neuropathy?

Resulting disturbances in protein and lipid metabolism lead to undernourishment which adversely influences other metabolic pathways, including those influencing the function of the nervous system. 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. One of the other common effects of alcoholic neuropathy is pain and hypersensitivity. While some people may feel decreased sensations, others might be more sensitive.

• Thiamine deficiency is closely related to chronic alcoholism and can induce neuropathy in alcoholic patients.
• People with this condition might have motor weakness from nerve damage, and the nerves can’t send or receive signals.
• However, that doesn’t mean treatment can’t help alleviate some of the symptoms and improve your quality of life.
• A certain amount of acetaldehyde is not metabolized by the usual pathways (Figure 2) and binds irreversibly to proteins which results in the creation of cytotoxic proteins which adversely affect the function of nervous system cells.

Benfotiamine (S-benzoylthiamine O-monophoshate) is a synthetic S-acyl derivative of thiamine (vitamin B1). A deficiency of vitamin B1 in chronic alcoholics can be due to inadequate dietary intake, reduced capacity for hepatic storage, inhibition of intestinal transport and absorption or decreased formation of the active coenzyme form. In an animal study, it has been found that chronic alcohol consumption in rats resulted in a significant depletion in thiamine diphosphate (TDP), the active coenzyme form of thiamine.

Referral to a behavioral health addiction facility may be required to treat alcohol addiction. We offer a range of treatment options, including inpatient and outpatient care designed around the individual. Whether you’re beginning to experience the signs of ALN, like decreased muscle strength, or if you’re trying to get away from drinking before alcohol causes irreversible damage to your body, we can help. Seeking treatment for alcohol addiction is an essential aspect of managing ALN. It’s key to find a treatment center equipped to address co-occurring disorders, manage symptoms effectively, and provide tailored care https://ecosoberhouse.com/ for alcohol use disorder, ensuring a comprehensive and supportive approach to your well-being. You may need to try many therapies and options before you and your medical team work out what is best to manage your side effects, restore nerve function where possible, and prevent further damage.