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Hi, I’m 33 And For The Past 2-3 Years Have

Posted on Wed, 10 Jul 2019

Question: Hi, I’m 33 and for the past 2-3 years have had a Tingling in my right foot. It happens at the end of the night. I’ve told all my doctors and chiropractors and physical therapist. It still remains. At the end of the night, when it tingles I put a compression sock on it to get the feeling to go away. My bloodwork is always fine and healthy. Of course I get to googling and I see causes can be alcoholic neuropathy. I drank like everyone else in college, but never drank near as much as them. However, where most ppl got married and had multiple babies, that didn’t happen for me, so i maintained a life where I drink about 4 times a week. I’m never drunk, but I have wine with meals. Now I’m worried that that’s what it is

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (22 minutes later)

somehow it didnt get the rest. I drank like everyone else in college, even much less than, always in moderation. but in the past few years with work stress, I drink wine 3-4 nights a week. I never get drunk, but now after googling, I wonder if thats what this is. ive told my doctors and physical therapist all this tho and they werent concerned. i also had a job the past few years where the woekload was so crazy that I could barely get up from the computer for 8 hours. I got a new job, am working out again. what are the chances it is alcoholic neuropathy

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (9 minutes later)

where I had so much work to do, I could barely get up from the computer for 8 hours and then drove an hour commute. the physical therapist thought it was tight piriformis, but wasnt sure because its not pain and not my entire leg. what are the chances of alcohol neuropathy

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Methylcobalamine supplements can help

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for using the Ask a Doctor service.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. Your symptoms seem consistent with peripheral neuropathy. I would need to ask you if you are a diabetic. Deficiency of Vitamin B12 could also give rise to such a presentation, so get tested for it. Taking methylcobalamine (Vitamin B12) 1500 mcg supplement per day for at least a couple of weeks should help in improving the situation.

I would also insist you to cut down on your alcohol intake (even though it is not high) since alcohol can lead to deficiency of B vitamins.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (7 hours later)

I have not been eating well for a long time due to heavy workload. Could it be due to lack of nutrition and not permanent damage from alcohol that I'm reading about? In regards to diabetic, I would not think so, if that is something screened in lab work. This was in last lab work: Patient has some subclinical hypothyroidism, mildly elevated TSH and normal T4. Simply will monitor this moving forward.

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (15 minutes later)

So I guess my question is, could it be B12 deficiency (I've been taking a B vitamin complex actually for the past 2 weeks) and not directly related to alcohol? I have glasses of wine with friends at dinners frequently (but never in excess in one night) but could it be the frequency is too high? Can this be reversed with stopping drinking, eating better, and B vitamins? I also began working out again regularly and I haven't in the past two years.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Try the supplementation that I have suggested

Detailed Answer:
Te damage due to alcohol (in this case) is temporary and not permanent. Lack of proper nutrition has just aggravated it. So long as you continue taking alcohol, the depletion would continue. Hence cutting down on it (if possible) would be preferable. Vitamin B complex supplements would not help as they do not contain the right components in right amount (as needed in your case). Mehylcobalamine is vitamin B12. Check the vitamin B complex atrip for the amount it comtains vs amount I have suggested.

The subclinical hypothyroidism does not seem.concerning at present.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (5 hours later)

it says 100%25 B12, but is it better if I get a B12 only vitamin? does it appear then that alcohol consumption is the main cause of the neuropathy? if I decrease consumption and take B12, how long till it goes away? should I continue to take B12 ongoing?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
B12 supplements would be better

Detailed Answer:
Yes, it is better if you take B12 only supplement.
There is no stipulated time period.
Alcohol consumption is not the primary cause of B12 deficiency.
You need to take and see. Usually it takes 3-6 weeks. Take it till then and a few weeks thereafter.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T