Alcohol-Related Neurologic Disease: Types, Signs, Treatment

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alcohol neuropathy stages

This disease typically occurs in chronic alcoholics who have some sort of nutritional deficiency. Treatment may involve nutritional supplementation, pain management, and abstaining from alcohol. Of the many detrimental health effects of alcohol consumption, one of the most common and permanent effects is alcohol-induced neuropathy.

  • The precise mechanisms responsible for toxicity on the peripheral nervous system, however, have not yet been clarified.
  • The abnormalities were usually of reduced amplitude, in keeping with axonal loss 2, 3, 5, 11, 12, 16, 21, 27, 37–39, 47, 51, 53, 54, 56, 63–68.
  • One of the other important issues in alcoholic individuals is the source of their calorie intake.

How can alcohol-related neurologic disease be prevented?

alcohol neuropathy stages

If you find that you have any of the symptoms listed above, you may have alcoholic neuropathy. Essentially, the cause of alcoholic neuropathy is heavy alcohol intake. This causes a snowball effect within the body, all the way to the molecular level. Some of the symptoms of alcoholism symptoms alcoholic neuropathy can be lessened with medication.

Treatment for Alcoholic Neuropathy

It may also be that comorbid hepatic dysfunction is a risk factor for alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy. Further studies are required to develop a greater understanding of the interaction these entities. Nine studies reported EMG findings in alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy patients. Reduced recruitment pattern of motor units was a frequently reported outcome 16, 28, 67, 70. Active denervation (presence of positive waves and fibrillations) was also present in the majority of patients. The prevalence of denervation findings on EMG ranged from muscle to muscle, with the highest being in the muscles of the lower limbs suggesting a length-dependent pattern 35, 45, 52, 59.

alcohol neuropathy stages

Patients & Visitors

  • The single most important step is to stop drinking alcohol immediately.
  • So, people tend to lose coordination of their extremities and balance.
  • These symptoms often respond poorly to treatment in people with alcoholic neuropathy.
  • Even with the best treatments, some people may continue to experience nerve damage symptoms.
  • Treatment for alcoholic neuropathy includes stopping alcohol intake, managing pain through medications and physical therapy, and addressing vitamin deficiencies through supplementation.

Those who abuse alcohol usually have poor diets, but this is made even worse by the fact that alcohol decreases the absorption of some crucial nutrients. The damage to nerves can be significant and in more severe cases, irreversible. Normally, the first step to treatment is to stop alcohol neuropathy stages the alcohol intake completely.

Thus, it is quite possible that chronic alcohol consumption is responsible for inducing neuropathy by activation of the caspase cascade and may be an important target for the treatment of alcoholic neuropathy. One of the other important issues in alcoholic individuals is the source of their calorie intake. These individuals draw the majority of calories from calorie rich alcoholic beverages with low nutritive value.

alcohol neuropathy stages

Alcoholic neuropathy may also progress to painful and hypersensitive feelings in the hands, feet, and limbs. A light touch may hurt, or you may experience a constant feeling of pins and needles. This kind of pain is difficult to bear, but for those who have been drinking in excess, it can be a chronic condition.

alcohol neuropathy stages