I don't know if I'm doing this correctly. Hope I can get some help with the site.
I have alcoholic neuropathy. (distal, symmetric axonal sensorimotor neuropathy?)

Shortly after I got sober, I found I had loss of balance, gait disorder, weakness of my extremeties, etc. When I was sent to a neurologist. She immediately dx me with alcoholic neuropathy. At that time, she said it could go away with cessation of etoh use, or not. It could stay the same, or progress. I have had a laminectomy since then, which relieved terrible foot pain when walking, but not much else (though I was so grateful for that!) My back pain and sciatica, though, have increased, I have had injuries, such as fractures and dislocations, from falls.

I have been treated by free clinics since then, with referrals to neurologists at times. I was having an amazingly good week, the last time I saw my current neuro, and told him I was all better. That was really dumb! I've been embarassed to ask for another ref. since then. My current meds are tramadol, naprosyn, Neurontin, Lexapro, cyclobenzaparine, buspirone, Protonix, trazadone and Lipitor. I think that's all.

I don't when the onset was. (I was drunk at the time.) In rehab, I just started noticing that my balance was still bad and I still couldn't walk a straight line. Of course, the usual extremety issues, with numbness and weakness.

I'm here to find answers and support, and to give support to other FOBs (you know who you are. Even though I have read that alcohol, along with diabetes, is the most common cause of pn, I have seen few posts about it. The only reason I can see for this is the typical alcoholic's shame and isolation. There may be others who aren't even aware of it, because the sx are so like being drunk, as was my case. I'm not being flip or disrespectful. I came to the rooms broken in mind and body, spiritually destitute, hating myself. I'm sober now, by the grace of God and the fellowship of AA, for eight years. What I have to deal with now, is what we call wreckage of the past.

Anyway, I don't really know what has happened and is happening to my body. I have started browsing the web again to try to find out. That's where I found the dx above. I recently realized I have forgotten what it feels like not to have pain every day, or to have a body that works normally. It's hard, because I look okay, and do what I have to do, hiding what it is costing me. I was a nurse, with lots of lifting and using strength that really wasn't there, if yoiu know what I mean. I say I'm retired, but really, I'm just physically broken. People sometimes question why I'm not working, because I try so hard to look well. My nero dr. wants me to use a cane, so I don't fall down, but I've tried and I'm not ready for that.

This seems like a very nice site-- supportive and empathetic. I can't believe how much I openly shared. I hope it will be a rewarding experience for me, along with the opportunity to help others.

Linda