Has anyone been diagnosed with SFN induced by alcohol?
 

I'm wondering if there are any of you out there that fits the bill of having been diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy (perhaps non length dependent) induced by alcohol, perhaps even more specifically by drinking excessive amounts of beer, though not necessarily. Thanks in advance.

That's pretty interesting that you got a Neuro to be that specific with you, David , if that's what happened.....I can't get mine to get into details like that. It seems like I read somewhere that alcohol related PN is mostly , if not always, small fiber neuropathy, but I could be wrong about that. Sorry I can't help out on this, it will be interesting to see if anyone has info on this.

Thanks, Newstown. I appreciate the response. Well, mine is also an academic at a leading medical school in a large city, and so am I, though in a different discipline, so perhaps that facilitated this sort of relationship. I also read all the medical journals and research before seeing him, so we had quite a technical discussion. But a patient shouldn't have to do all that to get a decent level of details from their neuro, and I'm sorry that yours doesn't do that with you. My opinion of physicians is not very high for that and many other reasons.

Also, mine was diagnosed with a biopsy, and missed by 3 nerve conduction studies, so it would have to be pure small fiber. From what you all have been saying on your long thread, it sounds like yours involves larger fibers and was picked up with a conduction study, no?

Yeah, I've heard as much too, but can't seem to confirm it. Perhaps I should look at the medical journals again. Regardless, I appreciate your input. :)

Mine was confirmed on a nerve conduction test, David, but we didn't get into large fiber/small fiber discussion. I share your opinion re docs, and I know patients must be a drag after a while, but , you know, they can move on to another job and let someone have it that wants it, as far as i am concerned.

I see. Yeah, then it can't be just small fiber, though those can be involved too. A skin punch biopsy would show that and the extent, if you're interested in getting one done.

I agree completely. Yes, sure, they can be a drag, but I think physicians are compensated sufficiently and then some for their job. Study after study shows that most are in it for the salary, so it's no surprised that most are the way they are, uncaring, thoughtless and unhelpful. All the more reason to hold on to a good one when you find him/her.

Thanks again, Newstown.

DavidHC,

After getting my skin biopsy results and discussing it with the performing doctor (not the doctor who read the results..); I spoke to him about the possible causes - alcohol, high glucose, etc... and his reaction was, that if you drank alot, then it was caused by alcohol. So, if looking for an alcohol induced SFN, all he had to know was that you drank too much...and he would deem it alcohol-induced SFN. Ridiculous, but understandable, as I understand there's no clear information from the skin punch biopsy that points one way or the other with SFN. You would have to tie it to other alcohol related issues for it to be remotely-clear, and that's assuming you have no other indicators to the cause.