It is important to protect body parts with reduced sensation from injury. This may include:

• Checking the temperature of bath water to prevent burns
• Changing footwear
• Frequently inspecting the feet and shoes to reduce injury caused by pressure or objects in the shoes
• Guarding the extremities to prevent injury from pressure

Stop using alcohol to prevent the damage from getting worse. Treatment for alcoholism may include psychiatric therapy social support such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), medications, and behavior modification.

Damage to nerves from alcoholic neuropathy is usually permanent and may get worse if you continue to use alcohol or do not correct nutritional problems. Symptoms vary from mild discomfort to severe disability. The disorder is usually not life-threatening, but it may severely affect your quality of life.

• Disability
• Long-term (chronic) discomfort or pain
• Injury to extremities

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy.

Images

Central nervous system

Motor nerves

Autonomic Nerves

Alcoholic neuropathy

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Review Date: 04/30/2011
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)