With Neuropathy, When Is The Glass More Than Half Full?

Today's valuable post from healthline.com (see link below) is another of those irritating articles that give us no choice but to alter our lifestyles in order to improve our health. You hate to read them but you know they're true. In this case, it's about neuropathy caused by excessive drinking. Now I know, you're saying 'What's excessive drinking? My drinking's under control.' All I can say is, if you knew what the pain and discomfort from neuropathy felt like, you'd never touch another drop but the same goes for smoking, over-eating and all the rest of the habits that make life sometimes worthwhile - we know the pitfalls but do it anyway. the key to life is everything in moderation but when you've already gone too far and have a new disease for life, it's too late to just 'cut back' - you have to bite the bullet and stop. At least the article gives some tips as to how to do that but as you can imagine - they're pretty obvious. When you already have nerve damage from alcohol, there's no choice - you have to take steps to make your life more comfortable.

The After effects of Alcoholism: Alcoholic Neuropathy 
Written by Suzanne Allen and Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Medically Reviewed by Tyler Walker, MD on 11 February 2016

What is Alcoholic Neuropathy?

Alcohol can be toxic to nerve tissue. People who drink too much may start to feel pain and tingling in their limbs. This is known as alcoholic neuropathy. In people with alcoholic neuropathy, the peripheral nerves have been damaged by too much alcohol use. The peripheral nerves transmit signals between the body, the spinal cord, and the brain.

Thiamine, folate, niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, and vitamin E are all needed for proper nerve function. Drinking too much can alter levels of these nutrients and affect the spread of alcoholic neuropathy. Fortunately, abstaining from alcohol can help restore your nutritional health. This may improve your symptoms and help prevent further nerve damage. However, some alcohol-induced nerve damage is permanent.

Symptoms of Alcoholic Neuropathy

Alcoholic neuropathy can affect both movement and sensation. Symptoms range from slight discomfort to major disability. Although the condition is not life threatening, it can decrease your quality of life

Some areas of the body affected by alcoholic neuropathy include:

Arms and Legs
numbness
tingling and burning
prickly sensations
muscle spasms and cramps
muscle weakness and atrophy
loss of muscle functioning
movement disorders
incontinence
constipation
diarrhea
problems starting urination
feeling that the bladder hasn’t been emptied fully
sexual dysfunction
impotence
impaired speech
difficulty swallowing
heat intolerance, particularly following exercise
vomiting and nausea
dizziness or lightheadedness
Urinary and Bowel
Other

Call your doctor if you have neuropathy symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment make it more likely that you will be able to recover.

Causes of Alcoholic Neuropathy

Your peripheral nerves help your body manage important sensory and motor functions including:
bowel and urinary elimination
walking
sexual arousal
arm and leg movement
speech

Alcoholic neuropathy is the result of damage to these nerves. The damage may be the direct result of long periods where you drank too much alcohol. Nutritional problems linked to alcohol use, such as vitamin deficiency, can also cause nerve damage.

Diagnosing Alcoholic Neuropathy
Your doctor will need to examine you to diagnose this condition. It is important to share any history of alcohol use with your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor will need to rule out other potential causes for your symptoms.

Tests, which may identify other potential causes of neuropathy, include:
nerve biopsy
nerve conduction tests
upper GI and small bowel series
neurological examination
electromyography
esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
kidney, thyroid, and liver function tests
complete blood count (CBC)

Blood tests can also look for vitamin deficiencies that are linked to both nerve health and alcohol use. Nutrients your doctor might test for include:
niacin
thiamine
folate
vitamins B6 and B12
biotin and pantothenic acid
vitamins E and A 

Treatment for Alcoholic Neuropathy

The most important thing you can do to treat this condition is to stop drinking. Treatment may first focus on problems with alcohol use. For some people, this may require inpatient rehab. Others may be able to stop drinking with outpatient therapy or social support.

Once alcohol use has been addressed, your doctor can focus on the neuropathy itself. Symptom management is important. Nerve damage can also make it difficult for you to carry out the functions of daily life. Nerve damage may even make injuries more likely.

Every person’s needs are different. Treatment for neuropathy may involve one, or many, different types of care. These include:
vitamin supplements to improve nerve health (folate, thiamine, niacin, and vitamins B6, B12, and E)
prescription pain relievers (tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants)
medication for people with problems urinating
physical therapy to help with muscle atrophy
orthopedic appliances to stabilize extremities
safety gear, such as stabilizing footwear, to prevent injuries
special stockings for your legs to prevent dizziness 

Outlook of Alcoholic Neuropathy

Nerve damage from this condition is usually permanent. Your symptoms are likely to get worse if you don’t stop drinking. This could lead to disability, chronic pain, and damage to your arms and legs. However, if caught early enough, you can minimize the damage from alcoholic neuropathy. Avoiding alcohol and improving your diet can sometimes lead to a moderate to full recovery.

Preventing Alcoholic Neuropathy

You can avoid alcoholic neuropathy by:
avoiding excessive drinking of alcohol
not drinking alcohol if you have symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy
seeking help if you are having trouble avoiding alcohol
eating a healthy and balanced diet
taking vitamin supplements if you have deficiencies (always talk to your doctor before taking supplements)

http://www.healthline.com/health/alcoholism/alcoholic-neuropathy#Overview1