How to Repair Liver Damage from Alcohol: What to Know

The metabolic byproducts of alcohol trigger an inflammatory response resulting in damage and death of liver cells. In an AA support group, you will meet with others who were travelling down the exact same road. You will learn from their experiences, be encouraged by their support, and have the Substance abuse opportunity to teach and support others. You may even decide to volunteer your own time and efforts long after you achieve permanent abstinence. We encourage you to seek out counselling that will help you cope with the situation you find yourself in. It is also important to note that using medications without modifying drinking behaviour can create a more serious problem.

Will I Relapse After Treatment? (+ Prevention Tips)

This is the reality for many individuals suffering from alcoholic neuropathy, a debilitating condition resulting from excessive alcohol drinking. Alarmingly, up to 50% of long-term heavy drinkers develop some form of neuropathy, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. While the nerve damage caused by alcoholic neuropathy remains irreversible, early diagnosis and intervention significantly improve the prognosis. A comprehensive rehab program with a medical detox component can help alcoholics get sober and stay that way. Many programs will help manage co-occurring disorders like alcoholic neuropathy, so the recovering patient can live a more comfortable and sober life.

How to Diagnose Alcoholic Neuropathy?

Alcoholism, referred to as alcohol use disorder, occurs when someone drinks so much that their body eventually becomes dependent on or addicted to alcohol. You doctor also can refer you to a treatment center or experts who can help. Trying to tough it out on your own can be like trying to cure appendicitis with cheerful thoughts. In an alcoholic, the brain’s pleasure centers, as well as neurotransmitters that affect brain stimulation, are essentially out of whack. Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University implanted the therapy directly into the brains of rhesus monkeys that had been conditioned to drink eight to 10 alcoholic drinks a day.

Get Help For Alcohol Use Disorder

When asked how alcohol problems are treated, people commonly think of 12-step programs or 28-day inpatient treatment centers but may have difficulty naming other options. In fact, there are many treatment options available thanks to significant advances in medical and behavioral research over the past decades. When addressing drinking problems, it’s important to also seek treatment for any accompanying medical and mental health issues. The first step in getting help for alcoholism is finding a rehab or treatment facility that provides research-based treatment aimed at helping the individual recover and manage the condition. Comprehensive treatment gives individuals the needed tools to stay sober for the long-term and enjoy productive lives despite the disorder. The severity and combination of symptoms varies widely among individuals, depending on the extent of nerve damage and the duration of alcohol abuse.

It is also important to have a relapse prevention plan in place, which can include medications, psychotherapy, and support from family and friends. Prolonged alcohol use alters the brain’s reward system, making cravings hard to resist even after quitting. This is why people with AUD risk relapse, especially during stress or triggers. Like other chronic conditions, alcoholism needs ongoing management. With professional help and the right tools, long-term recovery is possible. However, the path of addiction recovery is also highly individual, and some people find achieving sobriety easier than others.

But this does not mean that alcoholics are not able to improve the quality of their lives and completely abandon the use of alcohol-containing beverages. Yes, vitamin supplementation helps reverse alcoholic neuropathy by restoring essential nutrients needed for nerve repair. Chronic alcohol use leads to deficiencies in thiamine Substance abuse (B1), B6, B12, and folate, vitamins that protect nerve sheaths and support nerve signal transmission. Alcoholic neuropathy is preventable with the proper action, including early intervention, consistent abstinence from alcohol, and nutritional support, particularly adequate intake of B vitamins.

• However, your liver can get damaged to a point where it can no longer generate new cells and repair itself.
• Detox involves eliminating alcohol from the body and managing the alcohol withdrawal symptoms that come with stopping drinking.

Medications For Alcoholism

In contrast, diabetic neuropathy stems from elevated blood sugar, and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy results from drug toxicity. While symptoms like numbness, pain, and weakness are common across all types, treatment strategies differ depending on the underlying condition. If any of the above symptoms felt familiar, or if you’re able to place someone in one of the stages of alcoholism, it’s time to seek treatment.

Three oral medications — disulfiram (Antabuse®), naltrexone (Depade®, ReVia®) and acamprosate (Campral®) — are currently approved to treat alcohol dependence. In addition, an injectable, long-acting form of naltrexone (Vivitrol®) is available. These medications have been shown to help people with dependence reduce their drinking, avoid relapse to heavy drinking, and achieve and maintain abstinence. Naltrexone acts in the brain to reduce craving for alcohol after someone has stopped drinking. Acamprosate is thought to work by reducing symptoms that follow lengthy abstinence, such as anxiety and insomnia.

Alcoholism (Alcohol Use Disorder) Definition

Finally, mental health plays a large factor in alcohol use disorders. Mental illnesses like bipolar, depression, trauma and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have a higher comorbid with alcoholism. Approximately 1 in 4 people with a significant mental illness also have a substance use disorder.