Yes these are typical PN symptoms. I'm sorry you and your husband are in this position. Sounds like you need to go after a cause aggressively. It's too bad that most doctors know little about this. The alcohol sounds quite possible. There are several books out on neuropathy, regarding what has helped some folks.

Also see my two documents here:
https://sites.google.com/site/basicpoke/Home/neuropathy

I scanned these from a book in the Numb Foot series, don't have the name at this moment. Supplements that have helped me are evening primrose oil, alpha-lipoic acid, and magnesium.

Good luck
Electron