Thank God I found this site! Question about neuropathy.
 

Just stumbled across this forum and love the info! I was injured 9 years ago, and it ended my career. Since then, I started drinking very heavily. It got to the point I was drinking almost a half gallon of vodka a day.
This past December, I had a massive heart attack, requiring triple bypass.
I was in so deep and depressed, I didn't quit drinking, and I also smoked.
I was in the hospital for a week, and once I got out, the first place I stopped was a convenience store for a pack of cigarettes... When I hit the front door I went right for the booze.
Well, God got angry and gave me another slap. 4 days later, I had another heart attack. This time, one of the by passes collapsed, and a stint was installed.
This time, I threw the cigarettes away, and dumped the booze down the drain.

Now I'm dealing with the aftermath. The heavy drinking caused me to become diabetic. The smoking almost got me on the COPD train, but I'm feeling better, 4 months out.
One other consolation prize I received is neuropathy in my feet. The balls of both feet are numb, thank God their isn't any pain, just feels odd.

Thanks to some of the articles I've read so far, there might be a chance for me to recover some, or if the Lord allows, all of my feeling back.
I'm taking a B complex, as well as fish oil and zinc. I've been taking all this for the last month and wondered how long it might take before I feel any results? I figure I'll take it for maybe 3 months. But if there's no improvement, I really don't want to waste the money.

Anyone have advice, or suggestions about what I can do, and what to expect? I know it's taken years to get here, and it'll most likely take years to get close to where I was. I just need some good news for a change.
Thanks in advance, and God bless!!!

You're right...this can take some time to reverse (if it does). It sounds like you are heading in a better direction now and hopefully you will have caught this before too much damage occurred. Whether or not you can get normal feeling back remains to be seen. Have you had any testing done (NCS, EMG or skin biopsy) to confirm your neuropathy?

What about your B12 level? If not you should have it checked. It needs to be more than 400, but in your case...much higher. A B complex may not be enough. MrsD is more knowledgeable about how much B12 to take based upon your current level.

Also, careful with the zinc...as it can lower your copper levels and this (in itself) can cause neuropathy.

Thanks for the reply! As of now, I haven't had any tests. My Dr is going to do a B12 test the next time I see him. At first I thought it was diabetic related. But the more I read, the more I think it's a combination of both. I'll have to see a specialist to be sure.
Thanks again!

Hi KentuckyRanger,

There's a long thread on alcohol induced neuropathy in the alcoholism, addiction and recovery forum.

It can take a long time to recover - but there is hope as long as you can stay sober. Taking Benfotiamine is also highly recommended if you are or have been a heavy drinker.

Best of luck - keep up the fight.

Wow!!
 

Like sometimes hellraisers make the best preachers, you might have hit "bottom" as far as taking care of yourself and have the determination that you are going to need. Smoking and alcohol both at the same time is like climbing Mt Everest in flip-flops and a tee-shirt. In the words of Led Zepplin, "There is always time to change the road your on". We want to hear how you are doing and give suggestions and encouragement. Did your heart Dr. say anything about taking CoQ10 as a supplement? Also how did you come about taking Zinc? My Neuro stopped me from taking it(I had been watching You-Tube) she says that Zinc and copper come in a ratio that have to be tested for. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.P.S. In hindsight it seems to me that changes in symptoms or strengths or pains, etc. seem to stretch out to six months or so. So be patient and learn how to buy yourself some more time.

I'm taking CoQ10 and will now stop Zinc, yikes! I never mentioned it to my Cardiologist. I'd say if I do, he'll rip my head off, LOL!
Thanks to you, and everyone's replies! Right now, the only way I can explain it is like this. It's like someone has implanted warm, squishy Tootsie Rolls in the balls of my feet. It's a numb mass, that I can feel. Oddest thing I've ever experienced in my life...

Yep. I like that description better than feeling like my socks are bunched up between my toes. I have that bizarre altered sensation on my right foot only involving three of my toes. A few days ago, it hit my big toe as well for the first time, but that went away.

I would be careful on the B-Complex. Not all B vitamins are good for people with neuropathy. B-6 is not completely a friend of neuropathy symptoms. B-12 and B-1 are the ones that you should be looking to supplement. Even if you aren't deficient in these a low dose of these should be good to take. Fish oil couldn't hurt, Krill Oil is the best option there absorbed best and no fishy burpie blech. R-Lipoic Acid of course.

Double trouble
 

First let me do a disclaimer that states that I am an old geyser that is full of hot air and I like to sound like I have an understanding, I do NOT. I would venture to say that you have two directions this thing could stem from. Alcohol Induced Neuropathy is its own animal. And Diabetic Neuropathy is in the mix also. I hope that the Tootsie Rolls are your only symptom. Usually there is burning, stinging,zapping also involved. I post to address something you said in your first post. It was concerning your supplementation and how long before results were seen in order to drill down to the ones that you want to remain on.(That was my perception of your thought process). I would write back and say that you may want to search here for Mitochondrial Health. (Search button on tool bar) You may need to create the most nerve friendly nutrition that you can injest. This may mean taking supplements or eating foods that you will never see any results from but may help you stop degradation. I had taken Metformin for years as I am diabetic, and found that in a certian percentage of folks that Metformin blocks B-12 absorbtion. My B-12 was at 119 and 400 is the low mark. Some folks here eat Gluten free. Some do low-carb,(my preference) If you lurk and read and search, a better understanding will come to you. Right now if you can keep your glucose in control and stay off the POISON of Alcohol you get the gold star. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.

Yup, good description - I get that some days, but not all the time. (In addition to a number of other symptoms......)

I know the feeling of moving sensations. It started with my left second toe. Then it went away. When it came back, it was mainly in the ball of my left foot, with pain in my second toe. It lasted a few days, then went away.
It hasn't been until after my heart attack in Dec that it came back into the balls of both my feet, and hasn't went away since Feb of this year. it does change from day to day, but it isn't going away this time. It started to get better when I stopped drinking, but has settled in and became a constant irritation.
Like I said, some days are better than others, but I guess for the long haul it's here to stay.
I do have to admit that since starting on a B supplement and CO-Q10 regimen, things seem to be leveling off and calming down.
Don't get me wrong, I still get woken up in the middle of the night with excruciating shooting pain, but it doesn't last as long.

For people who have never had nerve problems, to read that your foot is numb, but hurts, makes absolutely no sense. Count yourself lucky and hope it never happens to you...