Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
In this article
Alcohol can have toxic effects on nerve tissues. People with alcoholic neuropathy have peripheral nerves damaged by excessive alcohol consumption.
The peripheral nerves send signals between the:1
The following nutrients are all required for proper nerve function:
Excessive alcohol consumption can change the levels of these nutrients. This change alters the spread of alcoholic neuropathy.
Alcohol misuse can lead to malnutrition and nerve damage; both contribute to alcoholic neuropathy. Drinking too much alcohol can affect the processing, transportation, and absorption of essential nutrients.
Some people with alcohol addiction also have inadequate food intake. This habit can lead to poor food choices and nutritional deficiencies, harming overall health and preventing nerves from functioning correctly.
Among patients with chronic alcoholism, alcoholic neuropathy is the most common harmful condition resulting from the disorder.
In the United States, approximately 25 to 66 percent of chronic alcohol users experience neuropathy.2 The majority of these alcohol users are working middle-class men.
Continuous drinkers are typically more affected than episodic drinkers. However, the incidence in the general population is unknown.
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The damage from alcohol-related neuropathy may be the direct result of alcohol addiction. Alcohol addiction can cause nutritional deficiencies, resulting in nerve damage.
Alcohol consumption decreases the absorption of nutrients like protein and vitamin B12. This results in significant vitamin deficiencies that affect many body areas, including the nerves.
Excessive drinking also alters the function of the:
Generally, it takes years for alcoholic neuropathy to develop. Some heavy alcohol drinkers experience a quicker onset and progression of nerve damage than others. However, it’s unclear why some people are more prone to alcoholic neuropathy than others.
Alcoholic neuropathy can alter both movement and sensation. Symptoms of the condition range from slight discomfort to chronic pain and significant disability.
Symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy can manifest in different body parts.
Arms and legs:
Urinary and bowel:
Other:
Speak with your doctor if you have alcoholic neuropathy symptoms so they can provide medical advice. Early diagnosis and treatment increase the chances of a successful recovery.
They’ll connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor
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The effects of alcoholic neuropathy fall into four primary categories:
Alcoholic neuropathy damages sensory nerves, resulting in a decreased sensation in the hands and feet.
A decrease in sensation can lead to:
Nerve damage can result in hypersensitivity to touch and resting pain. Light touch can feel exaggerated and painful, especially in the fingers and toes.
The pain may resemble:
As alcoholic neuropathy progresses, the pain can vary in intensity. It may reduce for months at a time before worsening again.
Severe alcoholic neuropathy can affect motor weakness due to nerve damage. Our muscles require a message from nearby nerves to function. When this message is interrupted by damaged nerves, the muscles cannot work as usual.
Autonomic nerves control how the body's organs work in the autonomic nervous system. These organs include:
Alcoholic neuropathy can weaken the autonomic nerves, causing impairment of bowel and bladder function and sexual dysfunction.
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During an examination with your doctor, you must share your complete medical history, allowing your doctor to diagnose alcoholic neuropathy accurately. If you have an alcohol addiction, you must disclose that.
Lab tests that may identify other potential causes of alcoholic neuropathy include:
Blood tests can also assess for a nutritional deficiency linked to nerve health and alcohol consumption.
There are several treatment options for alcoholic neuropathy. But first, those diagnosed with alcoholic neuropathy must stop drinking.
Treatment will initially focus on addressing the issues related to alcohol addiction. Some treatment options include:
Once you’ve addressed excessive drinking, your doctor can focus on the neuropathy.
Treatments for alcoholic neuropathy may include:3
Nerve damage from alcoholic neuropathy is usually permanent. If you don’t stop drinking excessive alcohol, your symptoms will likely worsen.
This could lead to:
However, if diagnosed early enough, you can reduce the damage from alcoholic neuropathy. Abstaining from alcohol and improving your diet can sometimes result in a moderate to full recovery.
Alcoholic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that affects heavy alcohol drinkers. It can cause severe symptoms, such as chronic pain and numbness in the extremities. Consult your doctor if you experience symptoms related to alcoholic neuropathy. An early diagnosis can help reduce the damage and improve the prognosis.
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