These problems seem overwhelming at times and require dietary adjustments, the use of specific medications, and other interventions for management. Though these symptoms may seem minor, they could significantly affect your daily life, leading to frequent falls, injuries, and general discomfort. You may experience lightheadedness or dizziness, particularly when standing up quickly – this is known as orthostatic hypotension.
Causes and Symptoms
The road to recovering from alcoholic neuropathy may be difficult, but with the right support and resources, it is possible to regain control over one’s life and health. Our evidence-based alcohol addiction treatment program is tailored what is alcoholism to your individual needs so you get the best quality treatment with the highest chance for success. We can help you detox while providing you with the tools and resources to build a healthy life. Take the first step toward recovery and contact us today to learn more about our programs and services. If alcohol neuropathy progresses long enough, the liver can become damaged, and a transplant may be necessary.
Lifestyle Modifications and Hand Numbness
The US National Library of Medicine (NLM) warns that around 50 percent of long-term heavy drinkers will suffer from alcoholic neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is a condition characterized by damage to the peripheral nerves, which can be caused by prolonged alcohol consumption. This condition can lead to numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet. Alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of chronic alcohol abuse, and it can be irreversible if left untreated.
Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
The severity of the pain may fluctuate as the disease worsens, occasionally going away for months before getting worse again. Antidepressant drugs are frequently used to assist manage the pain of alcoholic neuropathy, even though they are not licensed expressly for this condition. Supplementing with vitamin B12, folate, vitamin E, and thiamine may be advised to address these deficits. Additionally, genetic variables might be involved, rendering certain people more susceptible to alcohol-related nerve injury than others. Further factors that may affect the onset and alcohol neuropathy intensity of neuropathic symptoms include liver function, general physical health, and concurrent substance use.
Causes of Alcoholic Neuropathy
In situations like these, the transplant will give the body a healthy environment in which to start recovering from the toxic environment it was in before the transplant. Benfotiamine may assist persons with diabetic neuropathy, according to another study. They tested doses up to 900 mg daily, even though 300 mg was the suggested amount. Examining benfotiamine’s effects in conjunction with other B vitamins is equally crucial. To rule out other causes of neuropathy symptoms, additional evaluations may involve blood or urine tests, or imaging investigations of the brain or spinal cord.
- Pain, tingling, muscle weakness, and a loss of coordination, particularly in the hands and feet.
- Patients are encouraged to help develop their individual treatment plans, which include therapy, education, and relapse prevention.
- Take the following steps if you suspect you have neuropathy from overconsumption of alcohol.
- Only the degree of nerve damage is determined by the nerve tests; the cause of neuropathy is not.
How can I prevent hand numbness after drinking alcohol?
In particular, thiamine (B1), pyridoxine (B6), folate (B9), and cobalamin (B12) are linked with neuropathy. Maintaining adequate levels of these B vitamins prevents nutritional neuropathies (neuropathy caused by lack of nutrients. Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), pharmacist, or healthcare provider. Reach out to a Recovery Advocate today to begin the process of healing from alcoholism and neuropathy. With the help of experienced professionals and a supportive community, you can begin a sober and healthy life.
- Heat sensitivity, unusual feelings like “pins and needles,” and numbness or painful sensations in the arms and legs are common signs of sensory problems.
- In certain cases, your doctor might recommend a nerve biopsy, a minor surgical procedure where a small sample of a peripheral nerve is removed and analyzed.
- Both the quantity and duration of alcohol consumption play a role in its development.