Treatments for Alcoholic Nueropothy

Alcoholic Neuropathy is the scientific name for the damage caused to nerves and nerve functions in the human body due to the excessive drinking of alcohol. Alcohol is neurotoxic, it breaks down into acetaldehyde, a substance known to damage and impair neuronal functions. Symptoms can include numbness, tingling, aching, impotence (in men), blurred vision, slurred speech, muscle atrophy, problems urinating, incontinence, among others. Damage to all areas of the brain (including the prefrontal cortex), heart, liver and kidneys are common in alcoholics. Alcohol is a non-specific poison. It has deleterious effects on all body systems.
Excessive drinking over 10 or more years will likely result in alcoholic neuropathy, and reduced brain density will be measurable to some degree.

Stopping alcoholism

• The first and most important step to treating alcoholic neuropathy is to ensure the alcoholic behavior has been addressed. For an alcoholic, this typically means giving up drinking alcohol altogether. Only once the poison has been removed can healing begin. The most important treatment, then, is abstinence from all forms of alcohol.

AA or Rehabilitation

• An alcoholic must willingly maintain a course of sobriety. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has a proven history of success where other treatment options fail. An alcoholic will need help giving up drinking, and he can find it among other, now sober, alcoholics. Rehabilitation or internment in hospital can also be helpful, initially. But studies show attending AA afterwards helps an alcoholic stay sober.

Diet

• A good diet flush with vitamins is a must, especially B vitamins that can help restore damaged nerve cells. Thiamine and folic acid are vital supplements. Fresh, leafy greens help detoxify, and liver cleansers such as dandelion can be helpful. Lots of spinach can help replace blood cells and sustain failing hepatic functions.

Physical pain and depression

• The pain sometimes associated with alcoholic neuropathy can be alleviated with over-the-counter analgesics such as aspirin and Tylenol. The potential for triggering an alcoholic episode should not be overlooked when administering pain medication to a recovering alcoholic, however.
  Depression resulting from alcoholism is a trigger to keep drinking. Loneliness, desperation and depression can be treated with a mild course of Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prosac or Paxil. Psychiatric treatment can also help. For alcoholics unable to afford counseling, AA offers a forum where like minded individuals can discuss problems, offer solutions and give meaningful advice.

For numbness in the limbs

• Yoga and exercise are a must. Stretching helps increase blood flow to damaged extremities, re-tone muscle and stimulate nerve functions. Exercise helps direct anxiety that may result from sobriety, and channels blood and oxygen around the body. It can also help strengthen the heart, which may also be damaged from sustained, excessive blood-alcohol concentrations.

Motor coordination & reasoning

• In severe cases, fine motor coordination can be impaired. Exercises, yoga and breathing exercises combined with physical therapy may be necessary. To restore mental faculties, simple mathematical problems, reading and other simplified intellectual problem solving can help reawaken dormant brain activity. Speech impairment may take time and a course of treatment with a trained speech therapist. Daily meditation is always a good idea.

Urinary tract issues

• Supplements like the herb Saw Palmeto can help ease painful urination, or a swollen prostate in men. Drinking lots of water is a good idea; this helps flush the body and gives much needed relief to the kidneys, likely damaged from excessive alcoholism. Drinking at least two liters a day, slowly, is a good idea.
  Ultimately, recovery takes time. Alcoholic Neuropathy will have permanent effects on the physiology of the alcoholic--the damage is permanent. However, with time, and dedication to a sober way of life, an almost full recovery becomes possible. The brain connections are re-wired, and new neuronal pathways and interconnections replace malfunctioning regions. Patience is a must, because the alcoholic will be emerging from the wreckage of an alcoholic lifestyle. The impact is to all areas of the alcoholic: mental, emotional and physical. All these will have to be relearned, addressed, and healed. He will never be the same person again, but, with time and energy, he may become better, responsible, and able to live a sober life.