Alcoholic Neuropathy Treatment & Management: Rehabilitation Program, Medical Issues Complications, Surgical Intervention

ROS triggers second messengers involved in central sensitization of dorsal horn cells [41] or they activate spinal glial cells which in turn play an important role in chronic pain [42]. Reduced glutathione is a major low molecular weight scavenger https://ecosoberhouse.com/ of free radicals in cytoplasm. Depletion of glutathione increases the susceptibility of neurones to oxidative stress and hyperalgesia [43, 44]. One of the other important issues in alcoholic individuals is the source of their calorie intake.

Recovery is possible and beginning treatment early can help people avoid serious health complications from happening later in life. For those who have a problem with alcoholism, this reality might provide the motivation needed to seek treatment and quit drinking for health reasons. It’s not uncommon that neuropathy is a symptom of a larger problem with alcohol addiction. Some over-the-counter or prescription pain medications or antidepressants might also be necessary, in addition to approaches like physical therapy to increase strength in atrophied muscles.

Expected Recovery Time

Translocation of NFkβ to the nucleus has been reported to result in activation of the endogenous proteolytic enzyme system caspases [69]. Joseph & Levine [71] suggested that activity in signaling pathways that ultimately lead to apoptosis plays a critical role in the generation of neuropathic pain, before death of sensory neurones becomes apparent. Activator and effector caspases, defining components of programmed cell death signalling pathways, also contribute to pain-related alcohol neuropathy behaviour in animals with small fibre peripheral neuropathies. The death receptor ligand, tumour necrosis factor α, and its downstream second messenger, ceramide, also produce pain-related behaviour via this mechanism. This suggests that these pathways are potential targets for novel pharmacological agents for the treatment of inflammatory as well as neuropathic pain [71]. Oxidative stress is known to play a very important role in experimental animal models of neuropathic pain.

Due to the breadth of the literature surrounding this topic, this review shall focus exclusively upon peripheral neuropathy, without discussing autonomic neuropathy. Alcoholic neuropathy is usually not life threatening, but it can severely affect quality of life. Medicines may be needed to treat pain or uncomfortable sensations due to nerve damage. Alcoholic neuropathy is damage to the nerves that results from excessive drinking of alcohol. The damage may affect the autonomic nerves (those that regulate internal body functions) and the nerves that control movement and sensation. But if you have developed neuropathy as a result of alcohol use, it’s important to stop drinking as soon as possible.

Alcoholism and Nerve Damage: The Takeaways

The action of these abnormal proteins is explained by competition with normal proteins causing the damage to function and metabolism of the cell [22]. Based on these studies, it can be determined that there is a high rate of peripheral neuropathy amongst chronic alcohol abusers. It also appears that the addition of NCS may improve the identification of alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy. There are no medications that can help improve loss of sensation, strengthen muscle weakness, or assist with the coordination and balance problems caused by alcoholic neuropathy. However, some people notice an improvement in symptoms a few months after discontinuing alcohol intake.