Most people addicted to alcohol are unaware of the fact that the damage is more than the relief they get after drinking. About half of the people addicted to alcohol or have a history of addictiveness at the chronic stage suffer from the destruction and damage of the nerves. Having no pain at all in limbs after drinking alcohol is uncommon and rare.
Alcoholic Neuropathy
The term Alcoholic Neuropathy refers to the condition which causes severe pain and hurt to different limbs and arms of drinkers after drinking alcohol. This is a medical condition that includes the damage of nerves due to excessive intake of alcohol. Recent studies have shown that chronic alcoholics have damaged nerves, and the statistics are 20%-60%. Such people often feel numbness in different parts of the body, extreme pain, weakness, and tingling.
The accumulation of alcohol in the body damages the peripheral nerves that are connected to the spinal cord, our limbs, muscles, sensory organs, and above all, our brains. Through this channel, the brain receives impulses and information (sensory). The damage can ultimately result in the loss of sensory functions, which results in severe symptoms of losing sensation, pain, and numbness.
Areas of the Body that are Affected by Alcoholic Neuropathy
Alcoholic Neuropathy can cause a series of effects on the following parts of your body:
- You can feel numbness in your legs and arms.
- Several burns and tingles can be felt.
- You might get prickly sensations.
- Recurrent cramps and spasms of muscles.
- Atrophy and weakness of bones and muscles.
- Muscles might stop functioning.
- Disorders in movements.
- Urinary Bowls
Mild and Severe Alcoholic Neuropathy
There are two different ways that can occur when you have alcoholic neuropathy. They include; Mild and Severe Alcoholic Neuropathy. Mild Alcoholic Neuropathy is caused when one intakes 100 grams of alcohol twice or for more days in a week. The person is still able to detect pain and numbness in the body and has time to get back to normal life by consulting a doctor.
Whereas a condition arises when the alcoholic person is even unable to detect the pain and numbness of his arms and other limbs, and this is the case of Severe Alcoholic Neuropathy. This is caused by drinking a huge proportion of alcohol every day, like above 100 grams. Then it is even undetectable, and the victim is unconscious of the damage he has done to his body. That’s why it is advised to consult a doctor whenever possible.
Major Signs of Alcoholic Neuropathy
Following are some of the most common symptoms we can see in a victim or person suffering from Alcoholic Neuropathy;
- Infection of skin.
- Bruises and marks on the skin.
- Cuts and sores on the skin.
- Infection on toes, fingers, or feet.
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- When you’re injured, you don’t feel the pain; little pain is felt.
- Loss of sensation in arms, toes, feet, fingers, hands, and legs.
- Feeling dizzy mostly while standing with closed eyes.
- Lacking the coordination of hands and feet.
- Balance loss
Effects Caused by Alcoholic Neuropathy
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Numerous effects are caused by Alcoholic Neuropathy. The effects are;
Decrease in Sensation
Once a person becomes a patient of alcoholic neuropathy, he observes that he is feeling little to no sensation at all on his hands, arms, forelimbs, legs, feet, etc. Instead of this, all he is getting is bleeding and scrapes, along with a decrease in the sensory nerves and skills.
Increase in Pain and the Hypersensitivity
The common effects include pain increases and restlessness of sensations. This effect can cause long-lasting pains and hypersensitivity. The person feels constant pain in his hands, toes, arms, and other sensory organs. The pain the person feels is throbbing, burning like sharp pins and needles. The increase of the problem can increase the intensity of pain a person can feel.
Weakness of Muscles
When the neuropathy reaches a level of severity, the motor nerves get damaged, causing the inability of the muscles to work. This can clearly be witnessed by the weakening of arms, hands, and feet.
Neuropathy Autonomic
The nerves that are autonomic control functions of various organs. The organs include the intestines, bladder, and stomach. Autonomic neuropathy can simply weaken these organs by weakening the autonomic nerves. This can cause the impairment of the bowels, the impairment of the functioning of the bladders, and the dysfunction of someone sexually.
Diagnosis for Alcoholic Neuropathy
The problem can easily be diagnosed before more problems or damage to the peripheral nerves of the body. Following are some ways that can simply help or assist a patient to return back to a healthy and painless life;
Benfotiamine Treatment
Benfotiamine is also known as Benzoylthiamine Monophosate, a synthetic derivative of S-acyl of thiamine or Vitamin-B1. A person addicted to alcohol lacks the proper proportion of Vitamin B1, and for this reason, he sometimes feels sick and painful. This treatment can assist in completing the amount of Vitamin B1 required by the patient’s body and can result in the overall wellness of the patient.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
This is a well-researched acid used by the United Kingdom for decades for treating Alcoholic Neuropathy. The peripheral nerves are forced to work. This allows the patients to get proper treatment for alcoholic neuropathy.
Vitamin E
The fats-soluble compounds, including tocotrienols and tocopherols, are found in Vitamin E.
These fat-soluble compounds are used to treat patients suffering from diabetic peripheral neuropathy. On further research, it has been found that this Vitamin can also help patients suffering from Alcoholic Neuropathy and can help them find relief from the pains and bruises they feel on their legs, arms, and other parts of the body.
Antidepressants
The first drug that must be tried to get pain relief is the antidepressant. It certainly alleviates the pain of neuropathic symptoms. The drug ultimately blocks the uptakes of serotonin and norepinephrine, blocking pain transmissions.
Conclusion
For regular alcohol consumers, the arm is not the only body part that may hurt. If not diagnosed or cured at the right time, it can also expand its reach to other body parts. It may also make you feel less sensation or hypersensitivity. There are several ways to diagnose it, and if you are also facing getting diagnosed with it, you should consult with a doctor to know what should be your next step to overcome it.
I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.
