Alcohol induced neuropathy

Icehouse · 05-12-2014, 06:52 AM

Pixel, you appear to have a great attitude and have done some research. Good job!

If you can keep away from alcohol then you will have a much better chance of reversing the symptoms, so give it a shot...

Good luck and we are here for ya!

Pixel22 · 05-12-2014, 09:45 PM

My Neurologist started me on 10 mg. of Nortriptyline today as well. I'm not sure if that is just a starting dose or if it is therapeutic for PN. I know for depression the dosage is generally about 100 mgs. No drinking here. Eating well and praying for the best.

Wide-O · 05-14-2014, 05:56 AM

700 days here today, going to 2 years next month.

Something I noticed:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixel22

I am not going to supplement with B12 as my B12 reading was over 1900 without supplementation.

I'm not an expert, and I hope Mrs. D. chimes in, but a high reading like that without supplementation could mean that your body is not able to use the B12 that is available. I'm a bit amazed your doc didn't point this out.

Typical readings for "healthy" people would be between 400 and 800 ish, 1900 is very very high and normally only seen when you take B12 supplements.

If it is the famous MTHFR problem, you might still benefit from methylcobalamin supplements. But again, I'd prefer that Mrs. D. confirms this first.

In any case, good luck with the alcohol stop, you can do it.

mrsD · 05-14-2014, 06:44 AM

Yes, 1900 is very high. Without using ANY form of vitamin containing B12, the suspects are, liver damage, kidney disease of some kind, or a myeloproliferative (bone marrow) disease (mostly cancers).

An MMA test would show if B12 is working in the body, and not just floating around.

I think your doctor should do something, if only a few more tests, to see if it warrants looking for a hidden disease.

Most B complexes have B12 in them, and some breakfast cereals, and energy bars. If you consume them before the test, you could test high. But as a comparison, I tested at 1999 (from 849 normally) when I tried the new at the time Puritan's methylB12 in the recent past. I took 5mg orally in the morning on an empty stomach and 3 months later tested at that high level. My doctor was convinced that oral cannot work and was surprised that it did seem to work very effectively for me!

One should stop all vitamin supplements 3 to 5 days before any further testing to obtain a more accurate result.

Pixel22 · 05-15-2014, 10:29 AM

Thanks Mrs. D. I've had blood tests to rule out kidney and liver damage. Everything was normal. I did have a breakfast that was high in B12 and a multi-vitamin right before my blood test. I didn't know they were going to do one, or I would have fasted. Both the GP and Neurologist said not to worry about the high reading, but your point of whether the B12 is just floating around makes sense to me. I need to call the Neurologist in 3 weeks to let her know how the Nortriptyline is working. I will ask her about the MMA test then. I also wonder if after no drinking for a month, the B12 may absorb better since my liver won't be as busy breaking down excess alcohol. Funny that both doctors insisted that there is no harm in a high B12.

kidwonder · 05-23-2014, 03:23 AM

Thank you for the words of encouragement to just keep pushing on, Newstown. I guess that's all we can do, is to take it a day at a time. It truly is inspirational being on this thread of the forum, the encouragement does not go unseen.

I've just surpassed the 500 day mark two days ago. I'm floored at my own dedication to stay sober and while hitting that goal of 500 days is a vast importance, I realize it's just the beginning of a long battle against alcohol induce neuropathy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by newstown

I've not used it kidwonder, but I believe you posted earlier that a year ago you couldn't pick up a quarter. All I got for ya is hang in there. i get frustrated also, but the few studies I have seen available suggest you might need 2 or more years to bounce back.

"Abstract

Ten male alcoholics aged 38-72 years with clear clinical and electroneurographical signs of peripheral neuropathy were re-examined three to five years later. Conduction velocities, latencies and nerve action potential amplitudes were measured from median, peroneal and sural nerves on both occasions and the results were compared with age-matched reference values from 80 healthy men. Seven of the alcoholics showed normal or nearly normal scores in electroneurographical and clinical examination and they had all managed to stop drinking alcohol. The results suggest that the prognosis of alcoholic peripheral neuropathy is good and independent of age provided that intake of alcohol is discontinued and other causes of neuropathy (malignancy, diabetes, nerve trauma) are carefully excluded."

Wide-O · 05-24-2014, 05:11 PM

500 days is amazing KW, big congrats. Yes I know it's just a milestone like 499 or 501 days, but it's a milestone nonetheless.

We're all probably vastly different people with varying backgrounds etc. and yet we are pretty much in the same boat and know what the other is talking about, and we know how a little support goes a very very long way - sometime more than we dare to admit.

I should update my thread as it has been a bit of a rollercoaster these last 4 months, but the end result is that, even though it varies so much day to day, it is still getting better. Soon, it will be distant background pain, like a sore elbow or something. And if soon means: in 4 years than that's "soon" enough for me still.

Icehouse · 05-24-2014, 07:34 PM

700 & 500 on the same page. Love it!

I have been debating what my next "milestone" will be since clearing 1000. I think I may wait till the 2K mark to celebrate again.

Y2K? I dunno.

Icehouse · 06-02-2014, 06:59 AM

1035 days sober.

Well, I did something else I thought I would never do again. This is inspiration for the rest of you

Here in Virginia there is a National Park with a place called Crabtree Falls. It is a 1.7 mile walk to the top of the falls with lots of overlooks and such. BUT, what they do not tell you is that the hike contains 1.4 miles of what can be hardly called a trail!!

Climbing rocks, hurdling stumps, trees and roots, stopping for animals, etc..

I had to make myself a walking stick to get to the top (to compensate my lack of perfect balance).

So, a 3.4 mile hike up and down a mountain took me about 5 hours and I was wore the heck out. The girlfriend thought it was funny.

Anyway, I am just happy I could do such a thing again

Press on folks, you CAN do this!!!

newstown · 06-04-2014, 08:49 AM

10 Months Sober today....301 Days.

I feel really good. Of course, I retired at the end of April so who wouldn't, right?

My diet has improved dramatically since there was lots of junk at work. Ice cream, high carb, everything sugar and flour soaked. But now I am low carbing it, and feeling great.

I have been walking 30 minutes a day, and my PN seems improved , or is that my better frame of mind? Anyway, a band I played with a lot (drums) got together over Memorial Day weekend to play a private party. I was worried than I might not make it the entire 3 hours and worried about how I would stop the show if my legs and feet wouldn't cooperate. It went well and I felt great. I have always tended toward worry and catastrophizing with most physical complaints and sometimes I wonder how much of this is in my head.

Oh well, yes, Icehouse ...this CAN be done. Day at a time , baby.

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