What is Alcoholic Neuropathy? [Guide]

Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholic Neuropathy

Because of the gradual onset of alcoholic neuropathy, the symptoms are subtle and often mistaken for the normal injuries of everyday life.

Symptoms may include:

• Numbness of the toes, feet, legs, fingers, hands, or arms
• Pain, tingling, weakness, or “pins and needles” feelings in the toes, feet, legs, fingers, hands, or arms
• Lack of coordination of the feet or hands
• Loss of balance/unsteadiness when walking
• Bruises, cuts, sores, or skin infections on the toes, feet, or fingers
• Decreased pain from injuries, especially on the feet or hands
• Dizziness, particularly when standing with eyes closed
• Trouble walking a straight line, even without recent alcohol use
• Constipation or diarrhea; urinary incontinence or retention
• Sexual dysfunction; infertility or erection problems in men

Many body parts, such as the limbs, the bowel and urinary system, and extremities (hands and feet), can be affected. Other serious symptoms include difficulty swallowing, abdominal bloating, dizziness or fainting, impaired speech, sensitivity to temperature (too hot or cold), and vomiting or nausea.

While medical treatments are available and often necessary, non-medical or “home-remedy,” treatments may work for less severe cases of alcoholic neuropathy. However, patients should always see a doctor first to ensure they receive the proper treatment for the severity.

Symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy that respond poorly or not at all to these remedies include impotence, diarrhea, or constipation.

Because patients experience a loss of sensations, including pain, protecting body parts from injury is important.

Checking water temperature to prevent burns, changing footwear often or inspecting feet for injuries, and guarding the extremities to prevent pressure injuries are all imperative life changes a patient must make.

Several medical conditions mimic signs of alcoholic neuropathy, including diabetic neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, spine disease, muscle disease, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease).

The Effects of Alcoholic Neuropathy

Due to excessive alcohol consumption over a long period, the effects of alcoholic neuropathy are caused by nerve damage and fall into four main categories:

Decreased sensation

While lessened sensations in the hands and feet may not sound devasting, they can cause serious issues. Patients who cannot feel themselves getting injured must be aware of frequent bumps and scrapes, bleeding and infections of wounds, burns, and diminished sensory skills. These include poor balance and lack of coordination of fine motor skills such as walking or fingers.

Pain/hypersensitivity

Conversely, another effect involves painful or uncomfortable sensations. A light touch can feel painful, even bedcovers on the legs. Constant pain, such as burning, throbbing, or “pins and needles” in the hands or feet, is one of the most annoying aspects of alcoholic neuropathy.

Muscle weakness

Muscles require a message from nerves to function. The muscles don’t function normally when that message is interrupted due to damaged nerves. Again, weakness in the hands and feet is caused by this condition.

Autonomic

These nerves control bodily organ functions, including the bladder, stomach, and intestines. Alcoholic autonomic neuropathy weakens these autonomic nerves, causing bowel and bladder function deterioration and even sexual dysfunction.

These effects of alcoholic neuropathy are often permanent. They worsen with continued alcohol consumption, so seeking treatment and stopping drinking are essential to prevent worsening nerve damage.

Patients often ask, “Can you reverse alcoholic neuropathy?” While reversing or curing is difficult, it is possible if action is taken quickly and caught in the early stages.

You can prevent alcoholic neuropathy by, among other things, avoiding drinking alcohol excessively, eating a healthy, balanced diet, taking vitamin supplements, and seeking help if you cannot avoid alcohol abuse.

Diagnosing Alcoholic Neuropathy

To begin the recovery process, patients must be completely honest with their doctor about how much alcohol they consume. Alcoholic neuropathy has several causes and symptoms that other diseases may also present, but fortunately, a doctor can diagnose this condition in a few different ways.

Tests that will help determine neuropathy include:

• Blood Chemistry: Although this test doesn’t directly show alcoholic neuropathy, it indicates overall health. For example, it looks at liver and kidney functions; one of the signs of neuropathy is difficulty urinating or incontinence.
• Complete Blood Count (CBC): This type of test offers insights into a patient’s overall health, including how well the immune system works.
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: A doctor can look for things that cause nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy by analyzing the esophagus and upper digestive tract.
• Electromyography: Nerve cells send electrical signals. Electromyography is used to measure if nerve cells are or are not functioning properly. The process involves putting needles into the skin or muscles connected to the device to measure electrical activity.
• Nerve Conduction Test: Similar to electromyography, this test measures the speed and strength of nerve signals. However, electrodes are placed on the skin rather than into the skin and muscles.
• Nerve Biopsy: A simple procedure, often under local anesthetic, to remove and test a small sample of a patient’s nerve tissue for any damage.
• Neurological Exam: To test a patient’s reflexes, muscle strength, coordination, and sensory function, all impacted by alcohol neuropathy, a doctor conducts a physical exam.
• Upper Gastrointestinal and Small Bowel Series: A doctor performs a diagnostic test of the entire digestive tract using X-rays. This may help determine what is causing the abdominal bloating, constipation, or diarrhea often associated with alcohol neuropathy.