Alcohol and neuropathy
 

hi everybody--i am new here so bear with me------i am a 55 yr old female who drank like a fish from the time i was 14 yrs old until 12 yrs ago--
i was hospitalized twice and given a death sentence, more or less,----still here !!!!!
i lost the use of my legs for about 1& 1/2 yrs and fought my way back--i can walk and on a good day--even dance a little !!!

can someone please explain to me how alcohol causes neuropathy ? i have asked drs repeatedly and have never gotten a direct answer-- -

i also have liver disease--which my specialist tells me my liver has regenerated remarkably---is this really possible ??? i am afraid to believe this and get my hopes up that i might actually be around for a few---

i have been dry now for 12 yrs-------thank you

Greeting!!
 

Welcome to Neurotalk--
 

--though I'm sorry for the situation that prompted you to get here.

Alcohol can certainly cause neuropathy directly--large amounts of alcohol are neurotoxic--but very often even moderate drinkers may get symptoms of peripheral neuropathy due to vitamin deficiencies caused by the fact that people who drink large amounts seldom eat a proper diet. Moreover, people with certain genetic backgrounds have trouble metabolizing alcohol without using a lot of certain vitamins, such as B1, which is then depleted and this deficiency can then cause neuropathy.

Still, one should never assume that one's neuropathy is due completely to alcohol abuse; there may be other things going on besides that or nutritinal deficiency, and a thorough work-up is advised.

Come on over to our peripheral neuropathy forum--there's lots of information on this over there:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html

Hi. I'd like to welcome you to our forums. And congratulations on being sober. No small feat!!!

Take care and keep posting.

Melody

:hug:Glad you are here. The body has remarkable restoritive powers. Congratulations on your continuing sobriety, 9 years and counting for me, one day at a time...

alcohol is a nerve toxin
 

Alcohol and neuropathic issues connect because alk is killing
your nerves. I drank lots since I became a shrink and now I
have neuropathic damage, i.e. peripheral neuropathy or is that a
Ice Pick stabbing me in my leg. OUCH alas, that is another
issue, drinking now or not, and I have yet to win that one.
The Shrinks Reward....a few after the therapy room is
closed and dark, and home and safe.

De Doc