what is the best diagnosis for alcoholic neuropathy ?

[adam1969in]

My friend is suffering Peripheral Neuropathy. He gets severe pain in the legs and toes, burning sensation, prickles and electric shock like jerks. At present as per the advice of a neurologist he is intaking PREGABID FORTE 75 capsules - one daily at night. what other medicine or treatment would benefit him to completely cure of alcoholic neuropathy. pls.help him.

[woofgang]

My experience is pretty old, but from memory 20 years ago, if the damage wasn't permanent it would subside as the sufferer became "clean" I am not sure if permanent nerve damage is reversible.

[woofgang]

I think I am right, sorry, the med your friend is on is not a cure, it's for pain/ symptom control.

[douglas9401]

The word permanent would suggest not woofgang.

[douglas9401]

My symptoms are nothing like as severe as those you list adam, but I find moisturising helps immediately and into the next day. It may of course be the massaging and not the cream that gives the relief.

[adam1969in]

what cream would u suggest douglas

[Smowball]

Ive never even heard of it, sounds painful though.

[douglas9401]

Just something cheap. I use Lloyds own brand. It's about £1.20 for a tube.
It's purely for moisturising though, not a painkiller like Phorpain or similar.

[adam1969in]

He used to take FAST RELIEF which is a painkiller here in India. It gives a slight - i mean a very slight relief.

[rowanwitch]

IF it is alcoholic PN then there is some suggestion that vitamin b1 can help if the condition is still at the reversible stage but only if the person gives up alcohol

[Sqad]

There is no cure for alcoholic neuropathy and the ONLY peripheral neuropathy that is curable (reversible) is the neuropathy of Vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia)

[chrissa1]

Has he stopped drinking?

[sandyRoe]

Is he taking a vitamin tablet? Particularly Vitamin B

[adam1969in]

YES HE HAS STOPPED DRINKING SINCE TWO YEARS.

[Traci66]

My OH takes gabapentin, tramadol, vitamin B and thiamine, combined, they seem to work for him.

[woofgang]

douglas i was trying to be tactful when i said I wasn't sure if permanent damage was reversible. At various times in my career i have dealt with homeless people with an alcohol problem. I have met several individuals who would monitor their state by their peripheral neuropathy. When they started to get the tingling and burning, they would get admitted to hospital, dry out and leave and start drinking again once the symptoms had subsided. The first one I met who told me what he did was at Bethnal Green Hospital in London when i was a student.