Long-term excessive alcohol usage can result in a nerve condition known as alcoholic neuropathy. Reduced sensation, pain/hypersensitivity, muscle weakness, and autonomic symptoms are the four primary categories of alcoholic neuropathy’s effects, which are caused by nerve injury. Recovery from alcoholic neuropathy also heavily depends on lifestyle and personal health variables. The rate of recovery can be influenced by a person’s nutritional status, metabolic rate, and treatment compliance. For example, increasing dietary intake can aid in the healing of nerve damage, but prolonged alcohol use can worsen symptoms and delay recovery.
- Recognizing alcohol neuropathy symptoms early is key to preventing further nerve damage.
- Antioxidants found in berries, peaches, cherries, red grapes, oranges, and watermelon, among other foods, aid in lowering inflammation and lessen nerve damage.
- Evidence-based recommendations on alcohol-mediated perivascular renal sympathetic denervation for resistant hypertension.
- ALA slows blood clotting when taken with blood thinners, and can decrease the effects of your thyroid medication.
Is it possible to cure nerve damage?
Understanding that recovery from alcoholic neuropathy is a long-term, often variable process, allows us to work towards the best possible outcomes. With the right approach and support, we can achieve significant improvements in our symptoms and quality of life. However, maintaining adequate levels of B vitamins and magnesium may prevent the development of neuropathy due to nutrient deficiencies. Talk alcohol neuropathy with your primary healthcare provider to review the risks and benefits of introducing supplements into your routine. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant supplements may reduce nerve damage and improve symptoms of neuropathy. However, whether research supports the use of these supplements for neuropathy is not well established.
B Vitamins
Damage to the nerves leads to unusual sensations in the limbs, reduced mobility, and loss of some bodily functions. Diagnosis usually involves a healthcare provider collecting a medical history, performing a medical and neurological exam, and performing blood and urine tests. Treatment options include steps to quit alcohol use and managing symptoms of the disease.
Supporting Loved Ones with Substance Use or Mental Health Disorders During the Holidays
The federally supported work, published today in Science Advances, provides a new explanation of alcohol’s long-term effects on cognition. Certain forms of exercise are more effective than others at alleviating symptoms of different neuropathies. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) plays an essential role in supporting mitochondria (the cell’s powerhouse) function through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Additional studies are necessary to understand how acetyl-L-carnitine impacts neuropathy and whether the benefit depends on the type of neuropathy. People on hemodialysis regularly supplement with acetyl-L-carnitine to help fight chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Pain and hypersensitivity can also become more severe if the condition continues to progress.
- Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being.
- Difficulty urinating or urinary incontinence can occur as your autonomic nerves, which control bladder function, may be affected.
- In cases of alcoholic neuropathy, the conduction of these impulses is often slower or weaker.
- A person with this condition can be sensitive to touch and even feel pain while resting.
- This phenomenon can be attributed to the effects of alcohol on the nervous system.
Nutritional Deficiency
- Gateway Foundation can help you prevent alcoholic neuropathy by treating alcohol addiction head-on.
- Light contact can feel unpleasant and exaggerated, especially in the fingers and toes.
- Reducing alcohol intake as soon as possible is the most crucial way to stop the symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy from getting worse.
- Treatment options include steps to quit alcohol use and managing symptoms of the disease.
For instance, it can’t remedy drug addiction reduced sensation, muscle weakness and coordination or balance problems. Muscle weakness most often appears in the hands or feet, and if the condition isn’t treated, it’s possible to develop atrophy in the muscles after they haven’t been used for a while. Atrophy is when the muscle cells degenerate and waste away, increasing the severity of muscle weakness. However, other factors might contribute to the development of the condition.
Alcoholic neuropathy involves a range of symptoms resulting from damage to the nerves. These symptoms can affect various parts of your body and can range in intensity from mild to severe. If you’re genetically predisposed, you might notice the symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy earlier and more severely, even with comparatively lower alcohol consumption. The outcomes of alcoholic neuropathy can vary depending on the severity of the damage and how early it’s addressed. However, nerve damage is often permanent, making a full recovery unlikely. The question on everyone’s mind when diagnosed with alcoholic neuropathy is, “Can alcoholic peripheral neuropathy be reversed?