Pins and Needles
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 27
Pins and Needles
Hi all!
Newbie here. Anyway, I'm an alcoholic who is going on my third week of sobriety. This is the longest stent i've had in 10 years. Man, what respect I have for everyone working on recovery. I'm on week three and still feel like crap. I've had all kinds of symptoms but none more bothersome than the pins and needles/cramping sensation all over my body. The onset occurred about three days after I quit so I don't think it's alcohol induced peripheral neuropathy. That said, i googled the way i'm feeling an of course the internet has me thinking its MS or some other neurologic disease. Has anyone else experienced this? *I checked the FAQ on this page and it didn't populate any results*
Newbie here. Anyway, I'm an alcoholic who is going on my third week of sobriety. This is the longest stent i've had in 10 years. Man, what respect I have for everyone working on recovery. I'm on week three and still feel like crap. I've had all kinds of symptoms but none more bothersome than the pins and needles/cramping sensation all over my body. The onset occurred about three days after I quit so I don't think it's alcohol induced peripheral neuropathy. That said, i googled the way i'm feeling an of course the internet has me thinking its MS or some other neurologic disease. Has anyone else experienced this? *I checked the FAQ on this page and it didn't populate any results*
Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,966
Dr. Google is always giving me cancer. I started taking daily vitamins on week 2 I think? Multi,potassium,ect.. Drinking robs a lot of nutrition in several ways. Lack of a proper diet(even if I'd eat at all some days) being a big one for me. So, this last quit I threw Vit into my daily plan and still take them 12 months later. Just a thought.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 11,429
I had all sorts of stuff coming and going the first few weeks.
Eat well, hydrate yourself, get on some quality vitamins / minerals
as drink depletes everything.
Gentle walking, lots of showers, plenty of sleep all help.
Eat well, hydrate yourself, get on some quality vitamins / minerals
as drink depletes everything.
Gentle walking, lots of showers, plenty of sleep all help.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 101
I feel you bro. I can't tell you what it is, but I can tell you about my peripheral neuropathy (PN).
I had myself convinced I had neurological disease too. I couldn't understand why it came on days after quitting drinking. There are 2 reasons the dr gave me. First he told me that my neurochemistry is rebalancing, and it's literally a stress on your nervous system while this brain chemistry clears up. Second, he talked about how alcoholics bodies, at a cellular level, actually function better for short periods with alcohol. At the same time alcohol is killing you, it provides a very short-term bridge over gaps in your nerve communications system (that alcohol created in the first place, mind you). In sudden sobriety, these gaps are suddenly apparent. There's no "lunricating" affect of alcohol. These gaps cause things that are weird involving electrical impulses that are nerve signal transmission.
For me, it was the pins and needles, cramping, spasms/twitching. It was worst in my hands, but I could and did twitch everywhere. For months. Other weird sensations (parasthesias in medical speak) involved a feeling of weakness in my grip (without actually being noticeably weaker), "buzzing" or shocking (felt like electrical fleas), feeling like I had water spots on my legs (but didn't), a lower left eyelid that twitched for weeks, like a twitch a second in my calves for long periods after exercise, restless leg syndrome, myclonic jerks (I.e. Flailing body parts while drifting off to sleep). Fun stuff.
So neurologists are really good at nerve stuff. I had to see 3 before I got all the answers tho. Withdrawal also messes with your brain, giving you evil recurring thoughts. So see who you have to see. But I still have some issues after 10 months. They have gotten better. My neuro thinks I will make a full to partially full recovery which is fine - I am fortunate that my symptoms are a distraction, not painful or debilitating.
The other thing he told me to keep in mind, is that medical folks don't have this all nailed down. PN is permanent in some people, while others recover quickly. there are a lot of unknowns on how nutrition, time, and cumulative impact make healing easier or harder. Symptoms can come and go for a long time. Good luck,
I had myself convinced I had neurological disease too. I couldn't understand why it came on days after quitting drinking. There are 2 reasons the dr gave me. First he told me that my neurochemistry is rebalancing, and it's literally a stress on your nervous system while this brain chemistry clears up. Second, he talked about how alcoholics bodies, at a cellular level, actually function better for short periods with alcohol. At the same time alcohol is killing you, it provides a very short-term bridge over gaps in your nerve communications system (that alcohol created in the first place, mind you). In sudden sobriety, these gaps are suddenly apparent. There's no "lunricating" affect of alcohol. These gaps cause things that are weird involving electrical impulses that are nerve signal transmission.
For me, it was the pins and needles, cramping, spasms/twitching. It was worst in my hands, but I could and did twitch everywhere. For months. Other weird sensations (parasthesias in medical speak) involved a feeling of weakness in my grip (without actually being noticeably weaker), "buzzing" or shocking (felt like electrical fleas), feeling like I had water spots on my legs (but didn't), a lower left eyelid that twitched for weeks, like a twitch a second in my calves for long periods after exercise, restless leg syndrome, myclonic jerks (I.e. Flailing body parts while drifting off to sleep). Fun stuff.
So neurologists are really good at nerve stuff. I had to see 3 before I got all the answers tho. Withdrawal also messes with your brain, giving you evil recurring thoughts. So see who you have to see. But I still have some issues after 10 months. They have gotten better. My neuro thinks I will make a full to partially full recovery which is fine - I am fortunate that my symptoms are a distraction, not painful or debilitating.
The other thing he told me to keep in mind, is that medical folks don't have this all nailed down. PN is permanent in some people, while others recover quickly. there are a lot of unknowns on how nutrition, time, and cumulative impact make healing easier or harder. Symptoms can come and go for a long time. Good luck,
Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Australia
Posts: 171
Wow, thank you NoahJ - I went through so many of the same things - and had never come across it in reading other people's stories here. Besides SR I'm doing this alone, so perhaps if I had attended meetings or seen a doctor I would know about this. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I'm coming up to 4 months and the needles and jerking limbs have mostly stopped. I still get a little twitchy at night before I sleep but it is mild compared to the first couple of months.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Plymouth, MI
Posts: 147
Originally Posted by Tommy0311 
Hi all!
Newbie here. Anyway, I'm an alcoholic who is going on my third week of sobriety. This is the longest stent i've had in 10 years. Man, what respect I have for everyone working on recovery. I'm on week three and still feel like crap. I've had all kinds of symptoms but none more bothersome than the pins and needles/cramping sensation all over my body. The onset occurred about three days after I quit so I don't think it's alcohol induced peripheral neuropathy. That said, i googled the way i'm feeling an of course the internet has me thinking its MS or some other neurologic disease. Has anyone else experienced this? *I checked the FAQ on this page and it didn't populate any results*
Newbie here. Anyway, I'm an alcoholic who is going on my third week of sobriety. This is the longest stent i've had in 10 years. Man, what respect I have for everyone working on recovery. I'm on week three and still feel like crap. I've had all kinds of symptoms but none more bothersome than the pins and needles/cramping sensation all over my body. The onset occurred about three days after I quit so I don't think it's alcohol induced peripheral neuropathy. That said, i googled the way i'm feeling an of course the internet has me thinking its MS or some other neurologic disease. Has anyone else experienced this? *I checked the FAQ on this page and it didn't populate any results*
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 27
Noah, I feel like you took over my mind and wrote that post. Pretty crazy! Good to know that what i'm going through, to include occasional intrusive thoughts, is an experience shared by others. It's crazy what booze can do to your overall health. Thanks for your shared experience man. Helps put my mind at ease. And congrats on 10 months!
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,442
Just a reminder not to give out medical advice guys. Share your experience when appropriate but no advice/recommendations/diagnoses/ treatment plans for others please.
Dee
Moderator
SR
Medical and Psychiatric advice includes giving a diagnosis, treatment plan, medication advice and dosage suggestions, over the counter and natural home remedies that should be approved by medical professionals.
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SR
Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Plymouth, MI
Posts: 147
Originally Posted by NoahJ
Dee's right for several reasons. Not only is it a liability for the site, but even the wrong over he counter vitamin, for someone with near-acute pancreatitis or undiagnosed pre-cirrhosis, can do more harm than good.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 25
Originally Posted by Hawkeye13
I had all sorts of stuff coming and going the first few weeks.
Eat well, hydrate yourself, get on some quality vitamins / minerals
as drink depletes everything.
Gentle walking, lots of showers, plenty of sleep all help.
Eat well, hydrate yourself, get on some quality vitamins / minerals
as drink depletes everything.
Gentle walking, lots of showers, plenty of sleep all help.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 192
Originally Posted by Tommy0311
Hi all!
Newbie here. Anyway, I'm an alcoholic who is going on my third week of sobriety. This is the longest stent i've had in 10 years. Man, what respect I have for everyone working on recovery. I'm on week three and still feel like crap. I've had all kinds of symptoms but none more bothersome than the pins and needles/cramping sensation all over my body. The onset occurred about three days after I quit so I don't think it's alcohol induced peripheral neuropathy. That said, i googled the way i'm feeling an of course the internet has me thinking its MS or some other neurologic disease. Has anyone else experienced this? *I checked the FAQ on this page and it didn't populate any results*
Newbie here. Anyway, I'm an alcoholic who is going on my third week of sobriety. This is the longest stent i've had in 10 years. Man, what respect I have for everyone working on recovery. I'm on week three and still feel like crap. I've had all kinds of symptoms but none more bothersome than the pins and needles/cramping sensation all over my body. The onset occurred about three days after I quit so I don't think it's alcohol induced peripheral neuropathy. That said, i googled the way i'm feeling an of course the internet has me thinking its MS or some other neurologic disease. Has anyone else experienced this? *I checked the FAQ on this page and it didn't populate any results*
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: FLAAADAH
Posts: 793
I have nerve issues as well. In my experience, something I have learned over numerous quit attempts is Alcohol is a sedative (DUH)!...and a pain killer as well. I'am a daily drinker when I drink and I always have a level of alcohol in my body. The alcohol diminishes pain. After a few days to a few weeks, most alcohol is purged from the body and the nerve damage can be quiet painfull because there is no more "Painkiller" to mask the pain. I start hurting in places that I did'nt know hurt! My vitamin, mineral and electrolyte's get all out of whack and that just makes things worse for a while.
I take a B-Complex vitamin and a daily Multi Vitamin. Dont see where it can hurt. Walking a lot helps me also.
What does my Doc say? Quit drinking, for good, of course.
Just my thoughts.
DD
I take a B-Complex vitamin and a daily Multi Vitamin. Dont see where it can hurt. Walking a lot helps me also.
What does my Doc say? Quit drinking, for good, of course.
Just my thoughts.
DD
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