Alcohol is one of the best (if not THE best) PN pain killers, sadly. That's what kept me in a loop for a year after being diagnosed before deciding to get sober. I knew from a first attempt there would be hell to pay in the beginning. But I also knew it would keep me out of a wheelchair.

It will not continue to be as painful as now. But I can sympathize that the first months feel like hell, almost like a "wrong choice". It's not.

10decisions, secondchances, Okone1, KingTut...

Another welcome to all of you and I am so glad to see new faces that are looking for answers to this quirky ailment we have. It will never be a cut and dry fix but the socialization here along with bouncing ideas of each other is priceless.

Keep it going!

Oh yeah, 2039 days sober today. Been doing Yoga for 3 weeks now and I find it a little boring. I also found a Chiropractor about an hour north of me that specializes in PN....hmmm.

Awesome job on 2039 days Icehouse .

I can relate to yoga - I tried it when I was in a psychiatric hospital, dealing with my clinical depression and alcohol abuse - one of the nurses there taught it.

I learned a bit about stretching exercises which I still use but its technicalities passed me by.

SecondChances, "One day at a time" surely worked for me and I hope that it will for you too.

Does anyone else feel that their speech has been affected by alcoholic SFN?

I have neuropathy throughout my body, even my torso and face, but I have not found that my speech is affected, (yet?). I know my brain has. My long term memory is excellent, but my short term is terrible and my thoughts are very scattered and confused. I am no longer articulate and I fumble for words.

I would suspect that speech could be affected. It seems that this can affect every nerve in the body so it is highly possible.

I am the exact opposite....

Alcohol does cause damage to the brain, when used excessively.

Here is one article about that:

ALCOHOL'S DAMAGING EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN

I hope you all don't mind my constant babble but I am not going to AA, I am completely alone and I want no one to know that I drink and what I have done to myself. Family only knows that I have neuropathy but cause is unknown.

Being so early in sobriety I have hundreds of triggers in a given day. What keeps me sober is the horrific pain and weakness and then I think of this group and you have given me hope for some improvement in time. I have no illusion that I will ever return to normal function but any improvement will be a blessing. As I have said, the burning is sooooo much worse since not drinking. I would go back on the gabapentin and the atripyline, (don't remember how to spell it and too lazy to look it up), but I don't want to mask the pain because right now it is the only think keeping me sober.

Someone on this thread had said they read somewhere that neuropathy gets worse before better as the nerves regenerate, and they were looking for the link. I don't have the link but I too have seen that quoted by two different neurologists. I suspect I am too early in sobriety to be having any nerve regeneration but it is a valuable visualization and it makes the pain more tolerable.

I have also read that quitting smoking is important as well, as it will help with the circulation and blood flow to the damaged nerves. I tried yesterday but realized I was trying to do too much and I would end up a smoking drunk so I decided one vice at a time. Out of curiosity did anyone see improvement when quitting smoking?

Your words of encouragement came at the most perfect time. I was filled with self loathing, fear, regret, pity and much physical pain and crippling leg weakness to the point I had given up and almost sought solace in the bottle. Knowing that it can get worse before better saved me. Going forward I will go with "One day at a time" instead of my last plan of looking down the road 1-5 years in hope of improvement. Thank you my friend.