Cymbalta cannot be taken if the person drinks alcohol!

This drug damages the liver! It is VERY serious!
from http://www.rxlist.com/cymbalta-drug.htm

cymbalta hasnt seemed to be all that effective for PN pain based on threads i have read here and elsewhere. It did nothing for me.

VERY TRUE! My liver enzymes shot WAY up while on Cymbalta!! (i was also taking alot of acetaminophen products as well tho.....)

So, PLEASE be honest w/Dr about the drinking.....even if hubby gets defensive and say's "I don't drink THAT much!!"
His current coctail of meds + the hooch........NOT GOOD!

I have a relative who is lucky to be alive to this day! He's 'young' mid forties
but his liver was SHOT and he layed in a hospital for MONTHS waiting for a transplant!! Don't wait till bloodwork proves high liver enzymes, sometimes, it's too late, depending on this use/overuse of meds/drink.....

.......I'm pointing the finger at ME here too! :( I had NO idea at the time that the amount of tylenol products (over the counter and prescription) I was taking were sending my liver into a plunge.....I saw the warning labels and was told to be careful, but somehow didn't think it applied to 'me'....?
The blood test and the look in the Dr's eye made me realize I needed to make some serious changes!

Caring
Rae
:hug:

I personally would have a big problem with anyone telling my doctor anything without my permission. Encouraging a person, trying to persuade them with medical evidence or with what has happened to other people in similiar situations is one thing, going behind my back to my doctor, well to say i would be resentful is putting it mildly. With HIPPA, doctors are not even suppossed to talk to anyone else about your medical condition without your permission. We are talking about adults here not children.

the doctor needed not to talk, just listen, and i dont believe that is covered under HIPAA.....besides, not being honest with the doc is a form of fraud, dont you thinK?

He filled out the permission form last summer after he had the staph infection on his skin and the doctor is already aware. My husband came in a couple times with very strong alcohol on his breath. I try and be careful when I tell people about it because there is a tendency of prejudice — even with physicians. Alcoholism is not a respecter of persons. My husband is a very talented and wonderful man. He has a disease just like any other disease. Although he definitely can be an extreme jerk sometimes when he drinks and I HATE it.
But right now I am trying to focus on this doctor appt. He knows I am trying to get answers on what to ask at this doctor appt which is in just a few hours, yikes!

thanks Bob that is good to know

Pabb how is it fraud for another person not to tell a doctor about what the patient does if the patient doesnt want them involved in their health care decisions? That makes no sense at all. That isnt the case here anyway since her husband wants her to be involved.

Good luck Monika, i hope everything works out for your husband and you today at the doctors. I know about living with an alcoholic and its a very tough road to travel.

.......:confused: we are talking about a WIFE trying to save her husband's life! Nobody is going behind anybody's 'back' here! I'm sorry you've interpretted it this way. The husband and wife have signed consent forms.

If a person TRULY want's to be under proper treatment, there shouldn't even be an issue of 'hiding' anything.

Respectfully,
Rae

What i am not seeing in this discussion is the possibility of a salve that reduces pain i now that there are salves reduce pain 10 or 15 minutes

I use Biofreeze mostly for burning. It has menthol in it, in a vanishing gel base along with Ilex extract. Ilex is the a holly and herb that is brewed as a tea in S.America and used instead of coffee. It is called Yerba Mate there. As a tea that is consumed orally, it has some minerals, some caffeine related actions, and is a potent antioxidant. I do think that the Biofreeze does work in other ways. Most of the menthol containing products here do not have this action. Biofreeze is often given by chiropractors and physical therapists for other rehab type discomforts. I was introduced to it by a PT when I had therapy for my tendon leg injury. I also use it on my hands and knees.

Biofreeze.......good stuff!!
Also, I use.... Icy Hot
Super Blue stuff is supposed to work pretty well, too.

Question From Newbie
 

I have burning feet and I believe it is small fibre neuropathy. I smoked alot of years but quit 6 months ago, but using commit lozenges. Is that better than smoking?

Thanks Rae, that is really what it is, trying to save someone's life.

Monika....
 

:hug: I have prayed so MUCH for this situation! I'm glad to hear it went well
with the appt. How are you feeling about things now? Do you feel the Dr has a good plan going for you both??

I must say how much i admire you.....every aspect of this battle you and your husband have been up against has touched many hearts.....
your openness about the alcohol is what truly puts a heartfelt twist on this whole situation....IMO..... there is absolutely NOTHING shameful about it, and like you said 'He's a very wonderful and talented man'.......
.........so was my brother.....:(........i hate it that i must use the word 'WAS'.

.....he wasn't the one i referred to waiting for the liver transplant.....but nonetheless.......Neuropathy or ANY pain condition is bad in itself.......
the alcohol.....if everyone would be willing to be open about it.......is the 'silent enemy' in so many cases......
I truly understand where your husband is at....I too, numbed myself via that route some years ago......

Please keep us updated on the progress and how it goes with the appointments. A 'REAL' doctor will see past the person's personal choices and weaknesses and target the medical facts.

Whatever it takes to keep your husband more pain-free, I hope and pray he can get his 'life' back........he's so fortunate to have you.

Always Caring
Rae
:Heart:

:confused:mizz mg I also have alcoholic neuropathy. Drank for 30 yrs. Have all the good things that go w/it. Cardiomyopathy, balance problems, neuropathy from the knee down on both legs, no ankle reflexes and the worst is alcoholic Hep C. Take 1600 mg neurotin and 250 mg effexor a day. Tried all of the vitiamins and thiamin, folic acid etc. This didn't help. But don't get discouraged some days are better than others. Neurologists have told me once the nerve damage is done it's irreversible unless caught very quickly. Hopefully, yours is caught in time. As for the health ins. try if possible to get on Medicaid thru your state it will cover all depending on income. Keep your head up and do your best. Hopefully, you will get relief.

mizzmg & cindy t,
I also have alcoholic neuopathy. I've had it for over 12 years, now.
I drank for many years and self-medicated on booze, before I was Dx'd w/PN.
Read the threads called 'sticky' at the top of the topics page.
It is invaluable info for 'newbies'.
Also, take vit B12 in the sub-lingual Methyl cobalamin form (not cyano cobalamin)
at least 1000-2000mcg/day.

Hi nide 44
yours is but just one case. Dr wise young clearly states that Alcoholic PN is totally reversible unless of course you have have been misdiagnosed and there is an underlying issue. From what i read here a lot are misdiagnosed. has anyone else been booze free after the same diagnosis and not regressed ?

Does alcoholic neuropathy get worse even if you don't drink any alcohol and can it spread to other parts of your body.

Hi mrsD.
I am not usually on this site. I had a positive small nerve biopsy test about 1 1/2 years ago and then was diagnosed with RSD so had been on that site for a while. Recently, seen at Hopkins by another RSD specialist who says absolutely not RSD. (after I went through with the ketamine txs thats what I get for putting too much faith in one doctor).
They can not find a reason form my neuropathy(idiopathic) My question is I had an allergic reaction a few years back to Cipro. ER etc.(not anaphylaxtic) could this have caused my neuropathy? I am desperately trying to find a reason for this. :confused:
Thanks,
hopeful

Yes, sadly, it is possible that the Cipro caused your nerve problems. Not everyone gets this side effect, but when it occurs it can be devastating. Taking NSAIDs with the Cipro is thought to increase this potential.

This article explains how this toxicity happens:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciprofloxacin

Hi,
Is there any way to know for sure if that is what caused it. I just want to know. I have done so much research and had every test under the sun to try and find out. I hate the word idiopathic. My mind doesn't work that way. There has to be a cause for this. I guess I am hoping if I find the cause they can find a solution
Thanks,
hopeful:)

I don't think there is a way to know for sure at this time.
The drug companies hide and conceal their negative data, so everyone including doctors are in the dark.

The timing of your nerve problem onset, may be a clue. But in our complex environment, there are many things that can poison us today.

The tendon rupture issue was ignored for a LONG time, and only when doctors started having them, was the issue explored. (the doctors were using the samples, and then months later had the ruptures.). Seems that is the only way anything gets aired and discovered these days! :rolleyes:

Thank you! I guess maybe I'll never know!

Thanks Rae, Well for the first week he did good. But he relapsed and is not doing well now at all.. Well today I am calling an interventionist, that I spoke to about 6 months ago, and will set something up. If he does not go to rehab, I am moving out. I refuse to watch him do this to himself. The doctor already said it he has trouble quitting to let him know. Thanks for all your prayers and support. Monika p.s. I will keep you posted. I will try and do something everyday towards getting him help.

Monika....
 

I am SO sorry to hear of the setback....:(
I am one to never want to let go of hope......but I can only imagine how hard this is for you to be under the same roof.......
I sure hope he will go for the rehab.......maybe it will inspire him to be reminded of the many MANY talented, smart, and successful people of all walks of life who have gone thru rehab..... I hope he doesn't feel 'isolated'.
This happens to the best of the best of people.
It would be such a sad reality for him to lose you. But I do understand that there is only so much you can do.
Does he have friends ('good' friends) that are backing him up in getting into a rehab. If he gets encouragement from them, the more the better.
I hope he is willing to set himself apart from the people in his life who embrace his drinking.
You are giving him the 'ultimate' ultimatum.......and it's probably the best thing you can do for him at this point.

I still believe he can get his life back. I've seen it happen.
Please know you are always in my prayers.....:hug:

If you ever just want to talk 'off the main board'.....feel free to send me a PM and I'll be happy to share my personal experiences in more detail of what I've learned and experienced thru the important people in my life who have be entangled in this rut.....
There ARE ways out.
I pray that he realizes that it's the true 'manly' thing to do......to do it for himself....but also for the person who's stuck with him thru all of this. YOU!

I'll check with you soon if I don't hear from you
Your Friend
Rae
:hug:

Another hope......
 

.....is that maybe others who have battled what your husband is going thru or at least 'knows' of someone similar - would be willing to share what helped them to rise above this 'trap' (as i call it).....

It would be so great if others would give input on what has helped them in succeeding in overcoming an addiction, or bad habit....
We're all one big family here.....maybe we could all open up a bit more.

Even tho there is another forum here pertaining to addictions (I think?) , THIS particular discussion is all about peripheral neuropathy and the pain that has led TO the self-medicating......

Some things that I have personally experienced or saw someone deal with in overcoming the 'self medicating'....
Trusting in a higher Power. God has carried me thru ALL of my personal battles......
Someone I know quit drinking because the mixture of pain meds and alchohol had made him very physically sick,so he chose to go with the pain meds under the doctors supervision and the alcohol eventually went by the wayside.....
Legal troubles had forced some to 'get on the straight path'.....tired of spending time in the pokey and having their children bare witness to that.
Rehab. And sticking with it. Making that commitment.

.....Join in gang........:grouphug: we're all family here. This is a very important issue. Nothing wrong with opening up about it. After all this IS one of the contributing factors of PN.

Love and Hugs to All
Rae
:Heart:

alcoholic neuropathy. muscle weakness. left hand.
*******************************************
Hello!
2 weeks ago I woke up and found out that I have a muscle weakness in my left hand. I can't unbend fingers all the way so my left palm gets horizontally parallel.
Muscles of left hand got weak! I still can bend/unbend fingers, but not unbend all the way. My left arm is still strong. I can hold things, do pushups against the floor.
This is the only symptom I got. Right hand is OK, both legs are OK.
I was drinking for 2 weeks straight prior to that, drinking every day. I am 51 and I am in a good shape, no overweight, no diabetic. I do some jogging on a regular basis. At this time I don't have a medical insurance because I have been laid of recently. My year ago blood test result (I got it at home) showed that everything is within the normal range. Doctor wrote - All labs are OK.
I think I have an alcoholic neuropathy.
I am looking for your help, guys!
I bought vitamins B-12 (1000 mcg) and Super B-complex and for now I am just taking Super B-complex 1 tablet 3 times a day and I don't drink at all.
1 tablet:
vitamin C - 150 mg
Thiamin - 100 mg
Riboflafin - 20 mg
Niacin - 25 mg
vitamin B6 - 2 mg
Folic Acid - 400 mcg
vitamin B12 - 15 mcg
Biotin - 30 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 5.5 mg

Could you, guys, please suggest the treatment?
regards.

This is rather difficult. We can't diagnose on the internet.

You really need testing for B12 and Vit D to see where you are at for those 2 critical things.

The only thing I can go on now, is the fact that you drink. Drinking alcohol depletes magnesium from the body. Magnesium is the muscle relaxing mineral, whereas calcium is the contraction one.

You can try soaking the hand and arm in epsom salts daily.
3 tablespoonfuls to a small tub of warm water. Or take a bath in it. 3-4 ounces in a bathtub with warm water.

If this works then go to oral tablets. Your goal orally is 1/2 the RDA.

This thread has information on how to select the best oral form (do not get magnesium OXIDE).

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

Anything further, like arthritis, neck issues or Thoracic outlet syndrome, should be evaluated by a doctor.

alcoholic neuropathy. muscle weakness. left hand.
 

Mrs. D,

thank you very much for your help!
I am starting with warm water epsom salts bathtubs.
if Magnesium is muscle relaxing mineral, then it seems what I need.
Should I continue with B-complex 3 times a day (I have found this on the Internet)? How long do you think it could take ( I hope it will eventually) to get muscle work back? Roughly, 3-6 months?
regards
:)

Your b-complex is not very high dose. But it does have a good amount of thiamine in it, and that helps with alcohol metabolism.

The B12 is not very high, though. If your goal is to raise B12 blood levels, taking that separately as methylcobalamin would be the way to go. There is a B12 link in our stickies at the top of the forum page with lots of information on B12.

You may have some compression issue, due to arthritis in the neck or elbow, or beginning TOS. I'd not do the push ups for a while and see if you get a bit better with resting from that activity etc.

As we age our tendons become less elastic and easier to damage. Silica is one nutrient the tendons are composed of, and certain foods are high in it.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/silic...e-in-food.html

The family of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones (Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox) are known causers of tendon ruptures.
How they do this is not understood yet, but can happen up a year after using any of these antibiotics. If you have had any of these antibiotics I would be cautious and not strain any tendon for a while.

Also there is a condition called "trigger finger", which comes with age, and also is more common in diabetics. This is when the tendon shealth gets "stuck" in the contracted mode in the hand. It is more common in one finger, but could happen in all of them. Here is a diagram:
http://www.davidlnelson.md/Trigger_Finger.htm
There is a little knob develops on the bottom of each finger tendon and if the hand contracts too far, the tendon slips over it and cannot release properly. Only a good hand doctor can deal with this, and it may require surgical release.

If relaxing with magnesium does not help, you will have to seek out a doctor for more details.

Mrs. D,

thank you very much for your help!
:)

Got my hand back
 

Mrs. D,

it's been awhile. I keep forgetting to let you know. I got my hand back in a little less than 3 months. All I did is B complex 3 times a day, epson salts baths for the entire body and stopped drinking alcohol. I did baths during 1st 3 weeks laying there for 1.5 - 2 hours (till the end of the movie), then I was a little disappointed because I did not see any improvement, so I stopped. The hand got back somehow rather unexpectedly just as it went down 3 months before. Have no idea what exactly helped if any of mentioned above at all (could be just immune system fought it off?).
I had to use my right hand to take something out of my left jeans pocket because the left hand was too weak to do that.
Of course there are much more serious cases here you help to deal with but for me it was serious! YOU on this site tried to help me, spent some time with me!
Thank You and this site very much!
I appreciate this!

Regards.

Thanks for the update. I am glad for you that things are improving.

Our bodies can do wonders if we learn how to facilitate that!

One basic thing is that when an injury or strain occurs, there are chemicals that cells make to rush to the injury creating inflammation. In some ways this helps to heal and in other ways it can hinder, if excessive. (some vaccine reactions are thought to be chemical storms of this nature-- called a cytokine storm).

When that happens, blood vessels contract and oxygen and nourishment cannot get to the injury, and waste products of the cells cannot get out. This then complicates the healing and delays it. By soaking in epsom salts, the magnesium in there
opens the tiny blood vessels and enables improved circulation.
Then the REAL healing can progress. This is true with most injuries. The use of ICE following an acute injury is to prevent the EXCESSIVE cytokine reaction, so that healing will be faster.

Too much ICE is not good. As well as too much HEAT, for any injury, therefore. The body needs a balance.;)

Alls I can say is:

:yahoo:

please help
 

Hi Aussie,

hope you are keeping well. it seems my symptoms may have been very similar to yours. i am only 26 but have peripheal neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy probably as a result of alcohol :( i gave up alcohol straight away once i noticed but it has gradually got worse. legs and hands buzzing and starting to become painful, walking on golfballs, irregular heartbeat, heartburn, abnormal sweating, pale face, sleep disturbance, large pupils, constipation, early signs of erectile dysfunction and dizziness, slight headaches, oversensitivity to noise. this has me extremely worried about my future and its very hard not to let negative thoughts creep in :confused:.

just wondering were your symptoms similar to mine? how well you recovered? and how long did it take? can u feel nerve regeneration? can u recover from autonomic neuropathy? do u have any advice? sorry for all the questions but they are constantly playing on my mind. i need someone who doesn't think i am crazy, please help

thanks very much you sound like a kind caring person.

best wishes my friend

All I can say is do not drink again. Also don't take mega doses of any vitamins as in my opinion that can be toxic as well. Stay fit, well nourished and take a multivitamin. Get checked for any vitamin deficiencies and work with your doctor on getting them resolved. Keep a health journal and write down your symptoms. Get support from family and a doctor. Keep regular doctor appointments. It seems to me that most cases of PN are treated the same, and by correcting the underlying illness (ie. alcohol) you have a good chance of stopping and reversing some of the damage. I also had autonomic symptoms for a long time and they eventually resolved well enough to not be a major issue for me. I had palpitations,anxiety and labile bloodpressure. I was miserable. It was really tough but I am still here. I was painfree for almost 3 years until I had a car accident and the injury to my spine set off a big flare of PN again. As for you, just get some support, praying also helped me and take it day by day. Nobody knows what the future holds for any of us. There is a very good chance that you will improve in time. feel free to PM me anytime. I am not on he board everyday though. I usually check in twice a week.