NeuroTalk Support Groups - Alcohol Induced Neuropathy Part 2

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- - Alcohol Induced Neuropathy Part 2 (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/250134-alcohol-induced-neuropathy-2-a.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ctman (Post 1278977)

Hello all.

I thought I would start an ongoing detail of my journey from beginning to until? I suspect the PN is from moderate/heavy social alcohol use over many years. The first symptom was thumb twitching a year or so ago. Then in early April of this year (2019) after having 10 beers the night before, I awoke to tingling in my left hand. This then progressed to the classic "pins, needles and tingling" in my hands, skin crawling just above my left ankle and light-headedness.

I suspected PN from the beginning based on internet searches and dramatically scaled back alcohol use. The diagnosis was confirmed recently by my Neurologist after a EMG test (he said nothing other than "mild neuropathy") .

I was in denial at first and tried to just reduce the alcohol consumption significantly, but there has been no noticeable improvement and very slight progression over the past 4 1/2 months. After an appointment with my doctor on Friday, I have decided to get serious about trying to get better (although I know there is no guarantee of this with PN). Detailed below are some details about me and my recovery plan that I will be tracking on the forum. Any other help or recommendations would be really appreciated!

* 53 year old male in good health with healthy diet and vigorous exercise 4 times a week. Had a colectomy/IRA in 2007 but recovered quickly and no issues since 2007 with that.

* A1C in the "pre diabetic" zone, but not diagnosed a diabetic (we tested this to begin with).

* Stopping all alcohol use (two days in now).

* Starting a vitamin supplementation regimen recommended by mrsD and Icehouse on this site that includes the following daily:
-Centrum Silver
- Doctor's Best Benfotiamine (150 mg), Vegetable Capsules, 120-Count
- Jarrow Formulations Jarrow B-right Complex, 100 Capsules

Thanks again and I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

It has been one week now since I embarked on this journey. I have been on the supplements listed for 4 days now. I have not had a drink now in over one week (incredibly hard). Here is the status:
* Lightheadedness has improved every day...barely noticeable today
* Hands have improved...barely noticeable tingling today
* Skin crawling feeling on left ankle milder today
* Numbness in lips seems to have gone away
* Tingling in feet is about the same
* New symptom has been a the feeling of a hot pad on my left hip several times a day.
* I have had Heineken 0.0 two nights this last week (3 of them per night). It has helped allot as it has a great beer taste that I love.
The next week begins....

Ctman, adding to the wise thoughts of everybody else.

I stopped drinking when I spent about a month as a voluntary patient in a psychiatric hospital, taking first steps towards dealing with alcohol abuse and Major Depressive Disorder.

The first week was not fun; sweating, agitation and feeling generally lousy. I was closely monitored by the nurses during this and I expect that they reported
back to the psychiatrists in case more intervention was indicated; it wasn't.

After that week it was a nice feeling to notice my mind starting to clear. That has been a big factor in my staying sober since then and I hope the same will be true for you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ctman (Post 1279231)

Similar spot Ctman - been feeling some weakness in my legs for a couple of months, but after a summer vacation with some heavy drinking the slight tingling started and I knew something was wrong.

Going on 2 weeks now without any alcohol. Started taking some vitamins as well. Have a neuro appt on sept 17th which I suspect with confirm everything. I too try and work out a few times a week, but this has made it more difficult as my legs are much more sore.

I am hopeful I can get to the point where I can have a couple of glasses of wine with my wife, or clients. But want to let things heal and hopefully have the symptoms go away or at least almost go away.

When you say you significantly cut back, are you talking like a few beers a night?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTP1234 (Post 1279254)

I share the same hope...I really just want to get back to the point where I can enjoy alcohol (a few drinks) socially with family and friends again. I significantly cut back in early April right when the symptoms began - that consisted of no more than 2-3 drinks a few days a week. Unfortunately there was no improvement and perhaps slight progession. For the last week and a half I completely cut alcohol out and have seen improvement - but it is like a good day/bad day thing (some days better than others), but definatly better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ctman (Post 1279267)

Good luck with everything. 2-3 drinks seems like it shouldn't really have much impact as I was under the impression it was the excess that caused the damage. But also know it is different person to person and day to day. Crazy stuff.

Glad things are moving in the rogut direction now, hopefully in a month or so all is good!

It shouldn't, but the bad news is it most probably will (and yes, we are all different, but experience teaches us this).

Even though the complete reason for developing alcohol related PN is not fully understood (according to PN neurologist), it will be a combination of bad food habits (or even skipping food altogether for some), lack of vitamins (B1, B12 etc), your body height (!), the aldehydes coming from processing the alcohol, the congeners, reduced liver function, etc etc.

But once you have it, you become very sensitive to alcohol. Don't trust me on this, you will probably experience it. It's the dream of many to just go back to being a social and responsible drinker, and 99% fails in this - obviously depending if you had a real problem in the first place.

Please don't take this the wrong way: if you can do it, the more power to you! It's just that the statistics (and my experience) show you may waste a lot of time with it, and probably cause more pain than needed. No harm in trying to imagine a way of life without it, even if you don't plan on it yet.

But first things first: keep up what you are doing to turn it around or stop it in its tracks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wide-O (Post 1279333)

Please don't take this the wrong way: if you can do it, the more power to you!

Agreed! But, for me, the fear of that one drink turning me back into what I was is enough to keep me sober.

I have 100X more life now than I did 8 years ago and I would never tempt myself with the drink on purpose..

Just my $.02 ;)

Totally with you there.

2954 days sober

Just got back from a weekend camping trip in a 22ft VW....life is grand!

Wait till next month...I have a special treat for you all ;)

You're running for President! :D

OK, maybe not. Now I'm curious. ;)