Alcoholic Myopathy Symptoms
While a night of drinking with friends may sound like a good time, casual drinking can quickly escalate into alcohol abuse if it isn’t properly managed. In 2016, approximately 15 to 20 million people in the United States were suffering from alcohol use disorder.1 At Banyan Treatment Centers Chicago, we know it’s easy to develop a dependency on alcohol if you get carried away with your drinking habits. There’s also evidence that chronic abuse of alcohol and muscle twitching are related. Today, we’re looking into alcoholic myopathy symptoms and causes.What Is Alcohol Myopathy?
Otherwise referred to as alcoholic atrophy or alcohol atrophy, alcohol-induced myopathy is a condition characterized by weakness, pain, tenderness, and swelling in the muscles as a result of heavy alcohol consumption. Acute alcoholic myopathy is usually caused by an episode of binge drinking in which the person drinks 4 to 5 alcoholic drinks within 2 hours.1
As the name suggests, this condition results from the excessive consumption of alcohol and usually occurs in people with alcoholism. This condition can be acute, occurring after a long episode of binge drinking, or chronic, developing as a result of long-term alcohol abuse.1 Alcoholic myopathy symptoms can be highly uncomfortable and painful.
Common alcoholic myopathy symptoms include:2
- Muscular atrophy (loss of muscle mass)
- Muscle weakness or tenderness
- Muscle pain
- Muscle swelling
- Cramps
- Twitches
- Spasms
- Dark urine
- Sensitivity to heat
- Stiffness
- Cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle)
Although alcohol-induced myopathy symptoms usually go away, repeated episodes of binge drinking increase the individual’s chances of permanent damage to the muscles and joints as well as addiction. You may think drinking is fun, but it’s time to reevaluate how often you’re giving in to this habit.
The discomfort and pain of alcohol myopathy symptoms may only be the beginning of your worries. As providers of alcohol abuse treatment in Chicago, we have witnessed the effects of alcohol abuse and advise individuals battling with this addiction to get help right away.
Alcoholism Treatment
At our Chicago rehab center, we offer different programs to individuals who struggle with alcoholism or drug addiction. Often, frequent episodes of binge drinking indicate the beginning of a deeper problem. We understand how easily casual drinking can turn into an addiction to alcohol. If you or a loved one are finding it hard to quit drinking, you should get help right away.
As part of our substance abuse treatments in Illinois, we offer various levels of care, including IOP and PHP treatment, to help people reach sobriety. To learn how you can begin your recovery today, call Banyan Treatment Centers Chicago at 888-280-4763 or reach out to us through our contact form.
Related Reading:
The Truth About Exhaustion after Quitting Alcohol Are They Drunk or Overdosing on Alcohol?
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