Alcoholic Neuropathy?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 3
Alcoholic Neuropathy?
Hi, all.
I'm new to this forum.
I'm 22 and been a relatively heavy drinker for two years, but been drinking since I was 17 (but that was once every week or every other week). Over the past two years, I suppose I've averaged getting extremely drunk about three times a week. But even then, it goes in phases. There have been entire weeks where I don't drink, and then I might get drunk five days in a row. I'm not quite to the point of physical addiction; I don't get withdrawal symptoms when I abstain for days on end. But there's certainly a psychological dependency that flares up at seemingly arbitrary points.
To the point. The morning after my last session, I noticed a tingly/pins-and-needles/numb sensation in my left big toe. Over the next few days, it progressively spread across the rest of my toes, and up my left foot, to just below my ankle. There's also a tiny feeling in my right big toe. Over the past three days (to present time of writing this), the progress has seemingly halted where it is. I am glad it isn't progressing any further.
The inner hypochondriac within me compelled me to do plenty of research. The numbness/tingling/pins and needles seems to match up with peripheral neuropathy, and specifically alcoholic neuropathy, as drinking is the most obvious factor present.
There isn't any pain, thankfully; only the strange sensations. It is most distracting when sitting down; it feels like my toes are floating or moving around, even though they are still. Oddly enough, the sensations abate somewhat when I'm walking, or I move my feet even the slightest. It takes a while of keeping them still for the sensations to return to their fullest. Also, it seems to get better when I'm lying down, so sleep isn't an issue. In fact, when I wake up in the morning, my feet feel completely normal. It seems to get worse the later in the day it is. So there are a couple of things that seem not to match up with other reports of alcoholic neuropathy I've read (moving and sleeping is easier).
More queries began to arise when searching for evidence that it can develop after just two years of heavy-ish drinking (not more than three times a week on average), and in a person of 22. Most people reported drinking for many years beyond that. Admittedly there was no rule on how long it would take to develop, so it stands to reason it could develop in a 22-year-old after just two years. At least being at my young age, and not drinking for that long, gives me hope of reversing my symptoms after abstaining.
I haven't consumed alcohol for a week at this point. Does anyone have any input on how long after stopping drinking their symptoms took to subside, if they ever did? Does the likelihood of a full recovery increase being younger and not drinking as much? I'm seeing my doctor today, so I'll see what he says, but I figured I'll take as much input as possible.
Thanks in advance.
I'm new to this forum.
I'm 22 and been a relatively heavy drinker for two years, but been drinking since I was 17 (but that was once every week or every other week). Over the past two years, I suppose I've averaged getting extremely drunk about three times a week. But even then, it goes in phases. There have been entire weeks where I don't drink, and then I might get drunk five days in a row. I'm not quite to the point of physical addiction; I don't get withdrawal symptoms when I abstain for days on end. But there's certainly a psychological dependency that flares up at seemingly arbitrary points.
To the point. The morning after my last session, I noticed a tingly/pins-and-needles/numb sensation in my left big toe. Over the next few days, it progressively spread across the rest of my toes, and up my left foot, to just below my ankle. There's also a tiny feeling in my right big toe. Over the past three days (to present time of writing this), the progress has seemingly halted where it is. I am glad it isn't progressing any further.
The inner hypochondriac within me compelled me to do plenty of research. The numbness/tingling/pins and needles seems to match up with peripheral neuropathy, and specifically alcoholic neuropathy, as drinking is the most obvious factor present.
There isn't any pain, thankfully; only the strange sensations. It is most distracting when sitting down; it feels like my toes are floating or moving around, even though they are still. Oddly enough, the sensations abate somewhat when I'm walking, or I move my feet even the slightest. It takes a while of keeping them still for the sensations to return to their fullest. Also, it seems to get better when I'm lying down, so sleep isn't an issue. In fact, when I wake up in the morning, my feet feel completely normal. It seems to get worse the later in the day it is. So there are a couple of things that seem not to match up with other reports of alcoholic neuropathy I've read (moving and sleeping is easier).
More queries began to arise when searching for evidence that it can develop after just two years of heavy-ish drinking (not more than three times a week on average), and in a person of 22. Most people reported drinking for many years beyond that. Admittedly there was no rule on how long it would take to develop, so it stands to reason it could develop in a 22-year-old after just two years. At least being at my young age, and not drinking for that long, gives me hope of reversing my symptoms after abstaining.
I haven't consumed alcohol for a week at this point. Does anyone have any input on how long after stopping drinking their symptoms took to subside, if they ever did? Does the likelihood of a full recovery increase being younger and not drinking as much? I'm seeing my doctor today, so I'll see what he says, but I figured I'll take as much input as possible.
Thanks in advance.
Hi, antihawk. Welcome. Certainly stopping your consumption of alcohol is a positive step forward in many ways. Making changes earlier in life is, I believe, easier than later in life when alcohol dependency is far more likely.
I can't speak to your symptoms. You should see a physician, as what you describe could be several things.
With regard to when do you start to feel better, more "normal" after quitting? Everyone is different. I slept better after about two weeks, felt much more myself after around three months. It took about a year of sobriety for me to feel healed and whole again.
Good luck.
I can't speak to your symptoms. You should see a physician, as what you describe could be several things.
With regard to when do you start to feel better, more "normal" after quitting? Everyone is different. I slept better after about two weeks, felt much more myself after around three months. It took about a year of sobriety for me to feel healed and whole again.
Good luck.
All is Change
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,284
You need to go to a doctor. No point in getting het up about something that could be a lot of things. What if you have a pinched nerve in your lower spine for example? Worry more about stopping drinking now.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 3
Hi, antihawk. Welcome. Certainly stopping your consumption of alcohol is a positive step forward in many ways. Making changes earlier in life is, I believe, easier than later in life when alcohol dependency is far more likely.
I can't speak to your symptoms. You should see a physician, as what you describe could be several things.
With regard to when do you start to feel better, more "normal" after quitting? Everyone is different. I slept better after about two weeks, felt much more myself after around three months. It took about a year of sobriety for me to feel healed and whole again.
Good luck.
I can't speak to your symptoms. You should see a physician, as what you describe could be several things.
With regard to when do you start to feel better, more "normal" after quitting? Everyone is different. I slept better after about two weeks, felt much more myself after around three months. It took about a year of sobriety for me to feel healed and whole again.
Good luck.
As for the symptoms pertaining to my foot, my experience with CBT in the past has instructed me to see them as a perverse positive. I believe it now it is a tangible deterrent against drinking again. Before, I had no concrete reason to stop drinking. I was still "high-functioning"; it hadn't affected my life in any serious way.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 3
I went to the doctor and she said that, given my age, and given my relatively infrequent and short timespan of abuse of alcohol, it's extremely unlikely I have anything in the realm of neuropathy, thankfully. There appeared to be no back issues. She said it could be "nerve irritation", potentially worsened about worrying about that very issue. I was prescribed amitriptyline. Anyone have experience with this medication for neurological issues?
Also blood tests ordered for the usual potential culprits -- B12, B1 etc.
Also blood tests ordered for the usual potential culprits -- B12, B1 etc.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 8,704
I went to the doctor and she said that, given my age, and given my relatively infrequent and short timespan of abuse of alcohol, it's extremely unlikely I have anything in the realm of neuropathy, thankfully. There appeared to be no back issues. She said it could be "nerve irritation", potentially worsened about worrying about that very issue. I was prescribed amitriptyline. Anyone have experience with this medication for neurological issues?
Also blood tests ordered for the usual potential culprits -- B12, B1 etc.
Also blood tests ordered for the usual potential culprits -- B12, B1 etc.
I wouldn't necessarily take the diagnosis as a green light to keep drinking heavily, or maybe at all.
I had a case of frostbite in my toes and it lasted about 6 months. This was about 25 years ago, and I eventually regained total feeling in my toes again. Your body has an amazing way of healing itself and you were smart to see a doctor. Whether alcohol was a contributing factor or not, it's probably best to stop drinking just to be safe.
I was 32 at the end of my drinking and I had neuropathy - if I fell asleep I wouldn't feel or move my arms when I woke up. I quit drinking and it went away completely. This is a sign that something is not right with your body. Listen to it and quit while you are ahead. I have no lasting damage to my body - I think in part because I quit while I was young. You are young too. Quit NOW. You can do it - I know you can. I believe in you.
It takes a while to work initially - a couple of weeks for me.
There were initial side effects - I was a little drowsy and my mouth was often dry....but both those things disappeared completely after a while.
I started on 25 mg daily, increased it to 50 mg when the pain resurfaced after a fall.
D
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 403
I was 32 at the end of my drinking and I had neuropathy - if I fell asleep I wouldn't feel or move my arms when I woke up. I quit drinking and it went away completely. This is a sign that something is not right with your body. Listen to it and quit while you are ahead. I have no lasting damage to my body - I think in part because I quit while I was young. You are young too. Quit NOW. You can do it - I know you can. I believe in you.
I went to the doctor and she said that, given my age, and given my relatively infrequent and short timespan of abuse of alcohol, it's extremely unlikely I have anything in the realm of neuropathy, thankfully. There appeared to be no back issues. She said it could be "nerve irritation", potentially worsened about worrying about that very issue. I was prescribed amitriptyline. Anyone have experience with this medication for neurological issues?
Also blood tests ordered for the usual potential culprits -- B12, B1 etc.
Also blood tests ordered for the usual potential culprits -- B12, B1 etc.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)