jacknscoob

Hi guys

Is there any pain relief? I have it in the legs knees down, specially my feet?

How have others dealt with this and has anyone experienced that it can be reversed once u stop drinking?

Thanks in advance

J

justanothrdrunk

I had serious neuropathy problems before I quit drinking. Not only in my feet and legs, but in my hands and arms too. I was even hospitalized because I lost the use of my hands for a time.

Once I gave up the booze, it went away pretty fast. Most of the pain was gone in just few days. I did have some lingering superficial neuropathy in my left leg that took a little longer - but not more than a couple months.

I have had no problems since then.

As an aside...
I saw a neurologist who prescribed me some neurontin which helped with the pain. But at the time I wasn't honest with him about my drinking. Once it came out that I was a miserable drunk I was told that modern medicine could be of no help to me whatsoever until I eliminated alcohol from the equation.

laurie6781

I had some alcoholic neuropathy in my early recovery, and back in '81 there was not much they could do for it. However, as I stayed sober it did abate.

Had about 19 or 20 good years (continuous sobriety) when it returned with a vengeance. My neurologist has me on Neurontin which is working great to keep it in check.

Of course, as JAD said, even with modern medicine, nothing will help unless the alcohol is removed.

Go see your doctor and get a referral to a neurologist. The neurologist will be able to give you a pretty darn good assessment of how much of the coatings on the nerve endings is gone for good and how much may repair ti self.

See your doctor.

J M H O

Love and hugs,

flutter

I did too, and it went away after a month or so.. however, it can be permanent depending on the severity of damage to the nerve cells. Please see your doctor.

jacknscoob

Cheers for all your responses, pretty scarey stuff.

justanothrdrunk - must have been awful for you, in your case how quickly did it all come on. Mine has been gradual, but increasing.

Re the drug neurontin - is it a pain killer? And u say it doesnt work if you are still drinking.

I am awaiting a referral to an alcohol specialist via my doc and my doc said we can consider me seeing a neurologist.

So is there anything I can take for the pain over the counter?

How common is this condition with alcoholics, I never heard of it b4.

Thanks again.

J

laurie6781

Neurontin like Topamax and several others that are prescribed for neuropathy was actually originally manufactured as a seizure drug. For some reason Neurologists have found it works to calm the neuropathy.

Good, a neurologist is really the one to see.

I never found any, however, what I resorted to, when my legs felt like someone had poured burning gasoline on them, or that someone had a hot poker and was shoving it up my leg from the heel, was to fill the bathtub with water and LOTS AND LOTS of ICE and kneel in it. Yes, that too was painful at first, but after a few minutes the leg or legs would start to calm down and after about 20 minutes or so my legs were numb from the knee down and I got relief. Would take a few hours for the numbness to abate.

It actually is fairly common.

Hope you see your Doctor soon.

Love and hugs,

CarolD

Please remember to follow our SR guidelines.....

Thanks ....

jacknscoob

Laurie - thanks for the advice re ice - I will give it ago.

Once u were off the drink how long did it take to subside?

Thanks

J

PS: I feel I am unable to neal anymore cos of the pain, did u find this at all?

PPS: I have a referal appt booked for wednesday.

justanothrdrunk

Experience... advice... dancing a fine line here. Trying to be careful...

My neuropathy seemed to come on somewhat suddenly, though it was subtle at first - no pain, but a superficial numbness in my left leg. Started just below the knee and ran down the outside of my lower leg and across the top of my foot.

I had passed out with my legs crossed in a chair the night before I noticed it and that likely aggravated what was probably already present. I was just too drunk to notice before I think.

When it started to hit my hands, that came on fairly fast.

And when I say they couldn't help me without me sobering up first - that meant that they (the doctors) would not be able to tell me if it was indeed just plain old alcoholic neuropathy or something else. In other words, the only course of treatment was to stop drinking, and if it didn't improve, go from there. The neurontin did work for me while I was drinking. I do not know if there are any interaction problems with alcohol and that drug (I didn't experience any problems), though I don't recommend mixing alcohol with any drug.

As far as getting anything over-the-counter, I think not. OTC pain meds are anti-inflamitory. Neuropathic pain is not caused by an inflamation - so an anti-inflamitory drug wouldn't have any effect.