Russian physician Alexander Umnov warned that neglecting to treat alcoholic neuropathy could cause the patient to lose their ability to move permanently and become disabled.
The doctor said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Gazeta.ru: “The symptoms of this disease begin with numbness and weakness in the limbs, with a tingling, burning or pain sensation, then the condition gradually deteriorates to include difficulty in walking and performing simple daily tasks, such as climbing stairs or carrying things. The main cause of this disease is the direct poisoning of nerve cells by alcohol, which leads to a disruption in the transmission of signals between the brain and muscles, and consequently a weakness in sensory and motor coordination.”
He added: “The disease is divided into two types: an acute type whose symptoms appear within days or hours, and it often occurs after excessive alcohol consumption for long periods, especially if the body suffers from a deficiency of vitamin B1, and a chronic type that develops over months or years, and the patient may not notice the early symptoms until they worsen.”
The doctor pointed out that the symptoms of the disease vary between sensory symptoms, including tingling in the extremities, heartburn, pain, and motor symptoms such as muscle weakness, tremors, and loss of balance, and may even lead to paralysis. There are also symptoms such as heart palpitations, blood pressure problems, sweating, and bladder problems.
Omnov stressed the need to immediately consult a neurologist if any of these signs appear, in order to undergo an electromyography (EMG) test, which assesses the response of nerves and muscles to stimuli.
Treatment includes antioxidants to protect nerve fibers, B vitamins, and medications to improve blood circulation, but the essential condition for recovery, according to the doctor, is to stop consuming alcohol completely, with the need to treat addiction first in addicts.
