New member. Question...
 

Hi all,

Just discovered this forum, and I'm very happy I did. I've already learned new things by reading posts.

I was diagnosed in October 2013 with Alcoholic Neuropathy. My sweet 13 year old daughter died January 2011. After three months in bed I got up and tried to function for my older daughter. I was experiencing crippling PTSD, so I drank, and drank, and drank, and rarely ate.

The symptoms seemed to come out of nowhere. Within a month's time I went from having numb, cold finger tips to being in agonizing pain. Once my doctor diagnosed me I stopped drinking immediately.

I now take three Gabapentin at bedtime and Tramdol a few times a month. I take a women's multivitamin, but that's it as far as supplements. I'm anxious to learn of new ideas to deal with the chronic pain.

One question: Does wet, humid weather bother anyone else? It seems that whenever it rains or snows my feet feel bruised and my hands are claws. Ouch!

Thank you in advance for any tips or advice I could use. :)

Hiya & welcome.

I'm sure our resident expert, Mrs. D. will give you a more detailed answer, but I wanted to say that alcohol induced neuropathy can sometimes be reversed, or at least managed.

Almost immediately, from your post, I can deduct that you will be low(ish) in vit. B12 and B1, which can be corrected with rather cheap high quality vitamins. There are other supplements that may help, like fish oil, magnesium, r-lipoic acid, but B12 and B1 is where I would start.

B12 can be taken orally as methylcobalamine, 5,000 mcg/day, on an empty stomach. B1 can be found as benfotiamine 150mg/day, but again, I hope Mrs. D. will give you more information here.

Secondly, I invite you to read this thread about alcohol induced neuropathy.

Be patient, read around here, try to remain positive (stress is our common enemy), and needless to say, try to remain 100% sober. It took some time to damage your nerves, so it will take some time before they will start to repair. Don't expect immediate change, this will take at least a couple of months.

Good luck. :cool:

Yes, welcome and bonjour!

What Wide-O said is quite good, and I am one of the 'sometimes be reversed' from alcoholic neuropathy.

Good diet, moderate exercise (walking), NO BOOZE and a vitamin regime that is outlined in that thread mentioned above (read that thread) is what has helped me reverse my neuropathy.

666 days sober today and I stick around here to be and ear and to encourage others like me to stick it out...

We are here for YOU.

Looks like most of the bases are already covered by our two helpful members, Icehouse and Wide-O.

I'd only add at this point that if you rarely ate... you did not get essential fatty acids...which are crucial for repairing the nerve sheaths (myelin).

So fish oil or krill oil is very important for you. (2 a day to start, and take with food.
Magnesium as well. You can soak in epsom salts baths.
I have a magnesium thread here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html
Some of us are using the new Morton's Epsom lotion for our magnesium... it is available for $5.98 at WalMart now and Amazon (for a slightly higher price).

B1 or Benfotiamine is also important. As well as a good B complex... B-Right by Jarrow is an excellent formula. Also at Amazon. (300mg of B1 in divided doses, or 300mg Benfotiamine may be in one dose).

B12 and Vit D also might be low for you. You can get testing for these. If you choose not to, then 1mg methylcobalamin on an empty stomach, and 2000IU of Vit D3 is a good place to start.

These should start working within a month or two. Some people very low may see faster results.