Nutrient deficiencies can over time have a serious impact on the nerves, resulting in mild to severe nerve damage. There are several signs and symptoms that can indicate whether someone has developed alcohol-related nerve damage. Recognizing alcohol neuropathy symptoms early is key to preventing further nerve damage.
Manage underlying conditions
If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol use and addiction, the best way to prevent neuropathy is to seek professional treatment. Prolonged exposure to heavy alcohol use can damage these nerves, which can result in a number of uncomfortable and potentially-dangerous symptoms. Nerve damage that is caused by or related to alcohol use is known as alcoholic neuropathy, or polyneuropathy when multiple nerves are affected. Most patients with alcohol neuropathy initially present with symmetrical polyneuropathies in the lower distal extremities; however, heavier abuse can progress to distal upper extremity symptoms.
- It’s important to share any history of alcohol use with the doctor to receive an accurate diagnosis.
- In addition to those listed, another useful test is Needle Electromyography (EMG).
- Your brain and spinal cord are the two components that make up your central nervous system.
- Affected nerves include the peripheral nerves, primarily located in the arms and legs, and the autonomic nerves, which help regulate our internal body functions.
- Talking to your healthcare provider can be especially helpful when you have symptom changes or side effects that affect your usual routine and activities.
Treatment Options for Alcoholic Neuropathy (Alcohol-related Nerve Damage)
Anything that causes your body to go into “fat storage mode” is something to avoid; this means sugary things like soda and candy are definitely out. Alcohol is basically a simple sugar made from grains that at the end of the day is not unlike a soda while in your bloodstream in some ways. It’s a super good idea to get your blood checked right away and for you to know your glucose levels in your bloodstream.
General Health
Nerve damage typically affects the axons, which are the projections that send electrical signals from one nerve to another. It also impacts the myelin, which is the fatty coating that protects the nerves. It’s important to share any history of alcohol use with the doctor to receive an accurate diagnosis. Toxins and some drugs also tend to cause axonal damage, and — particularly if it happens suddenly and in large doses — the predominant symptom may be pain, not numbness. A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (). URAC’s accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability.
Alcoholic Neuropathy Symptoms
Certain genetic variations can make some people more susceptible how do you know if your neuropathy is caused by alcohol? to nerve damage caused by alcohol. Alcoholic neuropathy is damage to the nerves that results from excessive drinking of alcohol. The damage may affect the autonomic nerves (those that regulate internal body functions) and the nerves that control movement and sensation. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to numerous health problems, with one of the most significant being alcoholic neuropathy. This condition, caused by prolonged alcohol use, leads to nerve damage that affects movement, sensation, and overall nerve function. This condition is caused primarily by the toxic effects of alcohol on the nerves, coupled with nutritional deficiencies common in long-term alcohol use.
Of course, when you go to get this done, the doctors should be able to offer a lot of personalized tips on how to alleviate and attack the problems of low blood sugar. Symptoms of alcohol-related nerve damage develop gradually over time, and can become worse without treatment. Until symptoms become serious, many people may ignore or neglect their neuropathy. If it affects two or more nerves in different areas, it’s called multiple mononeuropathy, and if it affects many nerves, it’s called polyneuropathy.
How Much Alcohol Consumption Leads to Alcoholic Neuropathy?
- Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental health or both, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way.
- Once a person has completed a medical detox program, additional treatment for neuropathy can be integrated into their recovery treatment plan.
- In the article below, we will take a look at the five stages of neuropathy to help you understand and recognize each.
- Among people 45 and older, that percentage rises to between 5% and 7%.
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- A doctor removes a small piece of nerve tissue during a nerve biopsy, and then it’s examined under a microscope to determine if it’s damaged.
- This condition, caused by prolonged alcohol use, leads to nerve damage that affects movement, sensation, and overall nerve function.
- The nickname comes from situations when the nerve gets compressed because people have fallen asleep with an arm slung over the back of a chair or tucked under their heads after a night of revelry.
- This includes screening for alcohol misuse and total alcohol intake, as some patients might not openly discuss their drinking habits.
Alcoholic neuropathy
Some types affect only one or a few nerves, while others affect many nerves in the body. As the damage progresses, you can lose feeling in your feet, and the nerve damage may affect your muscles. You may experience muscle weakness, aches or cramps and have difficulty walking. Neuropathy generally develops slowly, but how quickly symptoms appear depends on the amount of alcohol you consume and how long you’ve been drinking. The nerve damage begins in your feet, and if you keep drinking, it may progress to include your arms and other body areas.
We know that drinking alcohol over a long period can lead to negative health issues, but we’re not exactly sure why these issues occur. Many factors contribute to the development of a condition called alcoholic neuropathy, resulting from nerve damage caused by excessive drinking. How long a person has misused alcohol and how much they’ve consumed in alcoholism treatment their lifetime are two major factors. Untreated alcoholic neuropathy may make it difficult to control your bowel or bladder function, have an erection or walk without feeling unsteady.