question for any experts out there about alcohol and nerve repair
 

Hey everyone,

So I have been trying to heal from a groin based peripheral neuropathy due to trauma that has been going on for about 1 1/2 years. I really cant say If im seeing any progress at this point still...

Anyways, during this time I have also been sober from all alcohol and have not smoked at all due to my desire to be in optimal health to help the nerves regrow (which I dont even know if they will at this point).

So, Ive been wanted to drink socially here and there, like a cup of wine or something, but I am paranoid that it will inhibit the potential growth of any nerves.

My question is, would a *small* amount of alcohol on a *very limited* basis interfere with my nerve's ability to regrow?

Hi John, I'm sorry I can't answer your questions, but I do have a suggestion.
What about when going out with friends you drink a non alcoholic drink.
My hubby was alcohol dependent and has not drank now for 14 mths. When we have had to go to social occasions my hubby will drink non alcohol larger. You will have to check the labels though as some say they have no alcohol content when some do have a small amount.
Hope this is of some help.
Regards
Buttercup:)

anyone else have advice/thoughts?

For many years some experts have said, that only alcohol abuse affected nerves thru poor nutrition. Improve the alcoholism and you improve nutrition, and many therapies involve B complex vitamins. Specifically B1.

However there is a new study showing direct damage in animals from alcohol itself to neurons.

So it is difficult for anyone to really say if you should avoid all alcohol or if you could have a small amount occasionally.

Here is a pretty good comprehensive link:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1174146-overview

thanks once again Mrs.D

was looking over that link and saw this

•Studies in rats also failed to demonstrate a direct toxic effect of alcohol on the peripheral nerves


could you post a link to that new study u r reffering to? Thanks so much.

I'll look for it.... it is on this forum in fact.

But I've been very ill with a GI thing and feel rather awful, still.

Weak and the strong antispaz medication makes it hard for me to think sharply like I do normally.

I'll look for it...did so this morning some, but gave up. I'll try to find it for you by tomorrow.

Here is one:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19766893

This is all I could find at the moment.

hmm that talks about alcoholic rats which I assumed were being fed alcohol for every meal. Im talking about once or twice every 2 weeks or something.

I know when I first got the injury, I was a complete alcoholic and was drinking every day. This went on for a year after the injury.

Do you think the damage is now permanent?

As I said before this is difficult to answer.

My impression is that if you had alcoholic induced PN you would have it elsewhere as well. But yours is confined to a tissue injury site only.

No one here can say for certain what you should do about recreational alcohol use.

Some tissues when damaged never are the same again.

For example:
My surgical foot was very numb on the instep for many years where the long scar is. Then feeling came back so I could feel the skin there slowly. And now that I am older that ankle swells up for no reason, and the area of the scar hurts. I don't know why and none of the doctors I asked know either. I just get hmmmmm and blank looks.

Some things "just are" following an injury or surgery. :Dunno: