Dear Members!

I had more or less a 10 years long relationship with alcohol up and down with some pauses and some binge drinking periods in the end. The past 3 years being the worst, especially since COVID started. I had a tough life and looked for some relief in drinking, which I learned was the worst choice of my life. I spent almost half a year of a hellish nightmare as a result in what seems to be alcoholic neuropathy.

I had the following symptoms:
- Weakness in the feet (I had difficulties walking sometimes)
- Pain in the hands
- Numbness in my hands and feet
- Small electric shocks in random parts of my body, especially fingers, toes
- Failing motor functions in my right hand
- Tingling in my fingers and toes
- Spasms, cramps, especially in the night or in the morning
- Insomnia (I slept less than 1 hour a day for almost a month)
- Numbness in the nights which woke me up once finally asleep
- Complete sexual disfunction
- Shaking hands (I could not even write or had difficulties typing on the phone or computer)
- False sensation of temperature in the hands and feet, legs and arm. (that was for me the worst of all, cold legs and feet.)
- Pain in my back
- A false feeling of being bitten by stinging nettle on my extremities or my back (I still have this ocassionally, if I eat too much sugar or stress out)
- short term memory loss
- concentration problems
- depression and anxiety
- cold needles on ramdom part of my body, especially extremities
- false feeling of waterdrops anywhere (really crazy)

I did not have all the symptoms together, but usually 2-3 of them. I stopped drinking in December 2021 and since then every week was a little better than the previous one. I have now 5-6 good days in a week. In January my best day was like my worst now. I have days now without any symptoms or very mild ones. The doctor said after the ENG/EMG measurement that in 6 month I could be completely cured.

I started taking vitamins, doing daily excercise and eating a balanced diet right after quitting alcohol. That means from one day to another without any help. I was so afraid of this sickness, I had no question that I have to quit drinking right away.

Now I take Benfotiamine (I am doing my first month on this. I live in Hungary, healthcare is for free, but it is very slow) in the mornings and complete it with B1, B6, B9, B12, Folat. I take some Vitamin which is called Milgamma N, but already cut down on the Vitamin intake, only go back to the old dosage on my bad days, which are less common nowadays, thanks God.

If you are interested in more details. Please ask. I would gladly answer.

Strange that i received no replies. I expected more interest, especially based on the desperate state I was in trying to find someone who actually got cured from this allegedly incurable sickness. Or did I post in the wrong thread?

Hi jean2399

I see you did find the forum for addictions and that you also posted to the alcoholic neuropathy topic that has long been running there. https://www.neurotalk.org/alcoholism...-and-recovery/

We also have a forum dedicated to Peripheral Neuropathy, where the effect of alcohol has been discussed a lot, so you may want to check in there as well: https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/

Jean2399, alcohol has no saving graces, I drank some thru my life but the Neuropatrhy I've dealt with is not from alcohol, but from a failed, in many ways, hip replacement, I was left with so much body damage. . B vitamins are important And I hope you continue on the Good Road and I often reply to people here with what I'm familiar with.

Thank you. I wish you good health. I will look into the grape seed extract, if I can get it here.

Welcome, jean2399,

I'm sorry I haven't replied earlier. Life's demands have been keeping me much too busy lately.

It sounds as if you're getting control of the drinking problem and are glad to be doing that. I hope you're also very proud as it's a tough battle.

A cousin of mine died due to alcohol-related liver cirrhosis. My sister, whose drink of choice was always vodka, got esophageal cancer and died at 73. I could go on and on about the people I've known who have suffered ghastly health problems connected with their drinking but I'm sure you're familiar with the horror stories too.

I've also known people who've stopped drinking and stayed sober for the rest of their lives. It can be done, and it looks as if you're doing it. Congratulations!

Thank you! I still keep fighting Wish you a good health!

Hi Jean, I am so happy for you. You are very fortunate as many/most people do not recover as much as you have. I wanted to mention just be careful of the b6. It is my understanding that too much b6 can actually cause neuropathy.
Congratulations on your recovery and God Bless!

Thank you, I will be precautious.

I have been through a lot in the past year actually. Bad days return, but I won't give up hope. Now, I have had 4-5 bad days, but before there were 2-3 weeks almost clean of symtoms.