To combat these deficiencies, supplementation with vitamin B12, folate, vitamin E, and thiamine may be recommended. Constant pain in the hands or feet is one of the most bothersome aspects of alcoholic neuropathy. The pain can feel like burning, throbbing, or sharp pins and needles. As the condition progresses, the pain may vary in intensity, sometimes diminishing for months before worsening again.
What’s the prognosis for someone with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?
Paralysis can be a symptom of different conditions that affect the brain, nerves, and spinal cord. It is a serious symptom that can affect one or more areas of the body. Treatment can often reduce long-term weakness, and rehabilitation is usually necessary. Over time, a person may develop Korsakoff’s syndrome alongside Wernicke’s encephalopathy.
- Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain.
- The diagnosis of alcoholic paralysis depends largely on the practitioner taking a thorough history and finding characteristic symptoms in patients who abuse alcohol.
What causes alcohol-related neurologic disease?
- The first step in treating alcoholic neuropathy includes stopping alcohol use altogether.
- Treatment usually depends on the underlying cause of your brain dysfunction.
- Diagnosing Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome can be difficult when people are experiencing mental confusion or memory loss.
- If you have cerebellar degeneration, an imaging exam may show that your cerebellum has grown smaller or deteriorated.
But there aren’t any proven prevention strategies for other forms of the disease. Less than 1% of people with cancer develop paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. Studies suggest that between 12% and 27% of people with alcohol use disorder have some level of cerebellar degeneration. Generally, paralysis or paresis of the face or the whole arm or leg will only involve one side of the body, and this is usually caused by a health condition affecting the brain or spinal cord. Often, paralysis or paresis of the foot or hand may involve both sides of the body, and it’s usually caused by a health condition affecting a nerve, like peripheral neuropathy. Once a healthcare professional diagnoses a person with Wernicke’s encephalopathy, they can begin treatment.
Can alcohol cause pain in your feet?
Sometimes, people assume these issues are part of the aging process. To confirm a diagnosis, your provider will likely suggest an imaging exam. You might have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a CT (computed tomography) scan. These exams create highly detailed pictures of your brain and its tissues. If you have cerebellar degeneration, an imaging exam may show that your cerebellum has grown smaller or deteriorated.
Causes and Risk Factors for Alcoholic Myopathy
Although alcohol is broken down by the liver, the toxic effects from a high dose of alcohol are most likely a direct result of alcohol itself rather than of its breakdown products. The fatal dose varies widely because people who drink heavily develop a tolerance to the effects of alcohol with repeated use. This is particularly true when binge drinkers fail to eat, because fasting decreases the rate of alcohol clearance and causes even higher blood alcohol levels.
Seek care immediately if you or a loved one experiences symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. In many cases, treatment can slow or reverse symptoms such as confusion, eye problems and muscle coordination. Your healthcare provider can discuss treatment options with you to tailor a care plan for your needs. It occurs when a person with thiamine deficiency continues to intake carbohydrates, either on their own or by giving glucose in a medical setting, without awareness of a thiamine deficiency. The processing of glucose (carbohydrates) requires a lot of thiamine, so any remaining stores are quickly depleted. A person can improve their outlook by significantly reducing or stopping their alcohol intake and ensuring that they are receiving the right balance of nutrients.
Wernicke-Korsaff syndrome is reversible if treated early and properly. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. Enter your phone number below to receive a free and confidential call from a treatment provider.
Progressed disease
Your healthcare provider may recommend blood tests to check blood sugar and thiamine levels. Healthcare providers often check for signs of is alcoholic neuropathy dangerous alcohol use disorder with a blood alcohol test and liver function test. Injury to these fibers can cause tingling or burning pain in the feet, which may be severe enough to interfere with walking.