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Treatment options may include medications to reduce pain and inflammation, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications such as limiting alcohol intake. Avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol is the primary way to prevent alcoholic neuropathy. If you notice you are developing any signs of alcoholic neuropathy https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/stages-of-alcohol-intoxication-alcohol-toxicity-treatment/ (such as numbness after drinking alcohol), in addition to seeing a doctor, try to stay away from alcohol altogether. If you are having difficulty avoiding alcohol, there are resources that can help you quit. When alcohol is responsible for damage to the peripheral nerves, a person has alcoholic neuropathy.
The distal latency of a very low compound muscle action potential of 1 peroneal nerve could have been suggestive of some degree of demyelination only in patient 2. F-wave latencies were normal in 6 of 10 motor nerves, mildly prolonged in 2 (1 median and 1 peroneal), and absent in 2 peroneal nerves. All sensory nerves tested showed abnormal results of NCSs, with reduced amplitudes or absent sensory nerve action potential, 2 to 4 weeks after onset. During week 3 to 4 after onset, EMG evidence of acute denervation had already occurred in 4 patients in the form of fibrillations and positive sharp waves.
Alcoholic Neuropathy: An Unusual Polyneuropathy Seen in a Rural ED
Recently however, there has been a decline in the consumption of wine in favour of beer (particularly among young people) and spirits (Indagine Nazionale DOXA, 1998). In fact, wine alone was consumed by 37% of our subjects, while only 21% drank other alcoholic beverages alone or in combination but without wine (Table 2). A number alcohol neuropathy of authors have drawn attention to the existence of a relationship between alcohol consumption and blood lead concentration (Ikeda et al., 1989; Staessen et al., 1990; Cezard et al., 1992). Other authors do not rule out the possibility of an indirect action correlated with the effect of alcohol on the toxico-kinetics of lead.
Alcoholics with polyneuropathy commonly show the typical features of alcoholic misuse including disordered social relationships, skin changes, memory disorders and ataxia. Neuropathy may be a minor aspect of the neurological presentation of Wernicke’s encephalopathy or Korsakoff’s syndrome. When polyneuropathy is the main complaint, the early symptoms are usually distal and symmetric, dysaesthetic sensory disorders in the feet. If present, the pain tends to be described as cramp-like, burning or stabbing. Sensory symptoms progress from distal to proximal regions in the lower limbs and in severe cases may involve the hands.
Differential Diagnosis
Oxidative stress also leads to the indirect damage of nerve fibers via the release of free radicals and proinflammatory cytokines with protein kinase C and ERK kinase phosphorylation [98,99,100,101]. Besides, ALN is characterized by insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) resistance, which results in impaired trophic factor signaling [102, 103]. In order to diagnose ALN, usually, several tests are needed to be performed to provide a complete and reliable diagnosis. Besides blood chemistry test and complete blood count (CBC), esophagogastroduodenoscopy is needed when a patient vomits and has nausea for an unknown reason; X-rays of the gastrointestinal tract can also be performed.
Indirect effects are mainly induced by vitamin deficiencies (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12) [84, 88]. Making lifestyle changes is a key component in managing symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy. Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help to provide essential vitamins and nutrients necessary for nerve health.
Decreased Sensation
Detoxing from alcohol can be dangerous, therefore it is important to seek professional help when doing this. These symptoms can seriously impact a person’s quality of life and make it difficult to perform different tasks. If you suspect that you might be experiencing some of the symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy, it’s vital to talk to a healthcare professional right away.
However, the toxic effects of alcohol can be even more extensive by affecting the nervous system and causing alcohol-related nerve damage. A person who drinks excessively over a long period might develop alcoholic neuropathy, which can be debilitating when left untreated. Primarily, it was assumed that the progression of ALN symptoms is due to malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency (mainly B1 hypovitaminosis) [82, 83]. Indeed, these factors contribute to the progression of ALN symptoms; however, they do not constitute direct factors that manifest in ALN development [84]. Current postulation holds that dysfunctions within the central and peripheral nervous system are due to both direct and indirect toxic effects of alcohol [31, 85,86,87].