About 46% of chronic alcohol users will eventually develop this condition. The clinical presentation of alcohol-induced PN is similar to other etiologies of PN. However, the pathophysiology of alcohol-induced PN is different than other forms of PN. Multiple variables contribute to this painful neuropathic syndrome, including the toxic effects of alcohol on neurons and nutritional deficiencies.

• Neuropathy can progress significantly faster if alcohol abuse is more severe.
• Both the toxicity of alcohol and nutritional deficiencies have been linked with alcoholic neuropathy, which is one of the most common but least recognizable consequences of heavy alcohol use.
• One patient with grade I neuropathy responded with the correction of low pantothenic acid.

Is peripheral neuropathy contagious?

Some researchers estimate that 65 percent of people in the United States who have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder also have alcoholic neuropathy. Avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol is the primary way to prevent alcoholic neuropathy. If you notice you are developing signs of alcoholic neuropathy (such as numbness after drinking alcohol), in addition to seeing a physician, try to stay away from alcohol altogether. If you are having difficulty avoiding alcohol, there are resources that can help you quit. Constant pain in the hands or feet is one of the most bothersome aspects of alcoholic neuropathy.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholic Neuropathy

TCAs have been shown to relieve various neuropathic pain conditions in many trials [115]. In agreement with this, one recent study has confirmed the efficacy of TCAs in central pain [116]. The serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs), duloxetine and venlafaxine, have a well-documented efficacy alcohol neuropathy stages in painful polyneuropathy [117, 118]. SSRIs have been studied in a few trials which have demonstrated a weak analgesic effect but the clinical relevance of these compounds is questionable [119]. N-acetylcysteine, an amino acid, is a potent antioxidant and helps to enhance glutathione concentrations.

What Causes Alcoholic Neuropathy?

The peripheral nerves transmit signals between the body, the spinal cord, and the brain. The most likely cause of alcoholic neuropathy is the nutritional deficiency that’s caused by heavy alcohol drinking. Those who abuse alcohol usually have poor diets, but this is made even worse by the fact that alcohol decreases the absorption of some crucial nutrients. Benfotiamine, a synthetic derivative of vitamin B1, improves neuropathic pain and motor movement by increasing nerve conduction velocity.

Alcohol causes neuropathy via multifactorial processes, many of which are still under investigation. Alcohol enters the bloodstream from the digestive system within 5 minutes of consumption, and peak absorption is seen within 30 to 90 minutes. One of the many inhibitory effects of chronic alcohol use is malnutrition.

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But that in itself doesn’t guarantee alcoholic neuropathy will go away. The longer the alcohol abuse has been going on, the more damage it has inflicted on the nerves. However, there can be comfort taken in the fact that many cases of alcoholic neuropathy may be successfully reversed if proper treatment is performed. The patient must be determined to change his lifestyle and remove the destructive factors from his life that so damaged his nerves. Patients with neuropathic pain may be less mobile, predisposing them to conditions such as pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, skin breakdown, muscle atrophy and weakness, and depression. Physical therapy should be included in the treatment plan to improve flexibility, strength, and balance.