Searching for info on alcohol induced idiopathic peripheral neuropathy
 

Hello, everyone!

I stumbled across this forum while searching for information on treating idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, brought on by alcohol abuse. I'm 54, female, and will be sober 3 years on 4/12/2023. I was hospitalized twice at the beginning of COVID-19 quarantine; those helped me finally confront my drinking.

My neuropathy is mostly in my feet, although it is present somewhat in my ankles and lower legs. Other than quitting drinking, I've been treating my condition with several supplements, which my neurologist agrees has been helpful. Iverecently had surgery, which required me to stop all of my vitamins and other things. Imslowly adding them back, and figure now is a good time to take stock and see what's working and what isn't. I started taking alpha-lipoic acid about 2 years ago, and it's really been helpful! I think it might be easier on my stomach to change to RLA, but I'm not sure if that's the right thing for me. Also, since the surgery has brought about hormonal changes, I think my body may respond differently to my supplements now. (I was in menopause prior to surgery, but since having it means that all of my body's sources for producing estrogen have been removed, there's bound to be some changes!)

This looks like a fantastic community! I look forward to learning from you, and getting to know you. Thanks in advance for your support, encouragement, and knowledge.

Well, technically--
 

--if you think your neuropathy was caused by imbibing alcohol, it's not idiopathic.

And it may be hard to parse out the nerve damage caused directly by alcohol as opposed to that caused by the nutritional deficiencies that heavy user of alcohol often have, meaning that low levels of various vitamins (notably the B-complex vitamins) may have contributed to it.

Start with the info at the Washington University Neuromuscular database:

Toxic neuropathies

Hello EmmieR and welcome to NeuroTalk
I am linking our Peripheral Neuropathy form for you as well as Pt 1&2 of another long running thread about alcohol induced neuropathy. Perhaps there will also be helpful info and support on those for you.

https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/

Alcohol induced neuropathy

Alcohol Induced Neuropathy Part 2

Welcome, EmmieR!

My peripheral neuropathy seems to be due to Type 2 diabetes. I assume you've been checked for that?

Congratulations on achieving nearly 3 years of sobriety! That is a great accomplishment.:)

Welcome EmmieR :Wave-Hello:

Thank you very much! It has been a minute-by-minute struggle some days, but it's all been worth it. :)

My bloodwork has always come back pretty normal with regard to my sugar levels, so no sign of type 2 diabetes.

Thank you. I will have to check and see where the term "idiopathic" became part of the wording that I use to describe my condition. The info at that link pretty much describes me to a T. When I saw my neurologist recently, he was pleases with the progress I have made. He said that the best choice I made overall was to stop drinking.