Peripheral Neuropathy: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment

The action of these abnormal proteins is explained by competition with normal proteins causing the damage to function and metabolism of the cell [22]. A priority treatment approach is to increase the patient’s caloric intake of nutritious foods. Chronic heavy alcohol consumption depletes hepatic proteins for energy and leads to a lack of B vitamins for carbohydrate metabolism and optimal functioning of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Patients may be severely malnourished and dehydrated with electrolyte imbalances.

Alcoholic Neuropathy Treatment

Others may be able to stop drinking with outpatient therapy or social support. An inpatient detox may be suggested when a person’s alcohol use disorder is very severe. Having a healthcare professional come to your house to assist with your needs can relieve a lot of added stress on you to alcohol neuropathy stages keep track of your treatment plan alone. Even though alcoholic neuropathy may not go away, there are things you can do to cope with this condition. Alcohol also alters the function of the stomach, liver, and kidneys in ways that prevent the body from properly detoxifying waste material.

• Avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol is the primary way to prevent alcoholic neuropathy.
• Motor function of the tibial nerve was the next common [3, 11, 51, 54, 59, 63].
• This condition often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet.
• You may suspect you have peripheral neuropathy based on the symptoms you experience, but you should see a healthcare provider to be sure.
• Sensory symptoms are also disruptive, especially when they involve pain or affect your ability to control what you do with the affected body part(s).

Methylcobalamin for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy

These programs include therapy, counseling, and education on substance abuse and its impacts. For those with alcoholic neuropathy, rehabilitation also focuses on managing and treating the nerve damage, incorporating physical therapy, nutritional counseling, and strategies to prevent further nerve injury. This treatment is also essential to try to address the long-term effects of alcohol on the liver.

Alcoholic Neuropathy

With the latter, sold under brand name Antabuse, drinking alcohol while taking it can cause strong side effects. Naltrexone (brand name ReVia, Vivitrol, and Depade) is hard on the liver, and can’t be used once patients reach severe levels of disease. To better understand the neurological effects of alcohol, it helps to explore some of the more well-known pathologies, disorders, and diseases. The following sections provide a brief overview of several neurologic conditions related to alcohol consumption. Thanks to advances in medical science and technology, many symptoms or forms of peripheral neuropathy are now treatable. That offers many people a chance to manage this condition, meaning they can live longer and with fewer restrictions or impacts from the related conditions and symptoms.

You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Lauren Smith has worked as a journalist and copywriter for the last decade, covering a range of topics including health, energy, and technology in the US and UK. Home evaluations can be ordered to assess the safety, appropriateness, and functionality of the patient in the home. Physical therapy and orthopedic appliances (such as splints) may be needed to maintain muscle function and limb position.

• Surgery may be recommended for people with nerve damage from injury or nerve compression.
• Both the toxicity of alcohol and nutritional deficiencies have been linked with alcoholic neuropathy, which is one of the most common but least recognizable consequences of heavy alcohol use.
• Beyond this, by definition, consuming enough alcohol to cause a “brownout,” “blackout,” hangover, or other overt brain symptomatology is evidence that the alcohol you’ve consumed is creating problems in your brain.
• Patients with small fiber neuropathy commonly report burning pain and may tell you, “My feet burn.” Patients may be hypersensitive to a stimulus (hyperesthesia).
• Additionally, chronic heavy alcohol consumption is toxic to the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5, which activates neuronal protein kinase C and causes neuropathic pain.

INSTRUCTIONS Management of alcohol-induced peripheral neuropathy

Who does peripheral neuropathy affect?