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Suggest Treatment For Difficulty Walking In A Person With Liver Cirrhosis

Posted on Fri, 15 May 2015

Question:

I am 34 years old and was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver due to drinking alcohol. I was sent home a month ago from hospital and keep drinking because I just shake if I don't. I cant even walk anymore without a rolling walker or take care of myself. What should I do? I got sent home 2 other times from a hospital but have insurance.

Answered by Dr. Divakara (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Quit Alcohol.

Detailed Answer:
HI XXXXXXX

Greetings from Dr.Divakara.P
Thanks for posting your query.

I need to know whether you are unable to walk because of shaking or because you don't have power in your legs ?

Also after discharge from hospital how was your condition and since when it started deteriorating ?

Kindly let me know this information.

But most important you have been diagnosed as Cirrhosis due to alcohol consumption and still you continue to drink it . I strongly recommend you to seriously consider quitting Alcohol . Yes in this initial few days you shall experience many withdrawal symptoms ( Shaking is one of them ) but there are medicines to bring down the withdrawal symptoms. Do consider that.

Kindly revert back with details asked for further discussion.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Divakara (14 hours later)

Thanks for the reply. I have no power in my legs at all. Therefore, I can not take a shower without assistance or do normal day-to-day routines such as cooking, cleaning, etc. I did not leave my place of residence in the last year but two times and that was to go to the ER/hospital. I was discharged from the hospital with these conditions and told to get a home health aide. I am normally able to function just fine and feel this would be enabling me to get better. What kind of medications can be given for shaking from alcohol withdrawal? I have panic disorder which has been untreated which is the reason that I started drinking heavily.

XXXXX

Answered by Dr. Divakara (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Need to evaluate for other cause for leg weakness.

Detailed Answer:
HI XXXXXXX .

Thanks for the follow up .

See it is very unlikely for Cirrhossis to cause such weakness in your legs . I suspect there has to be some other nerve or muscular problem in you that requires evaluation.

I would recommend you to consult a neurologist for this . You may require certain tests like MRI Lumbar spine and Nerve conduction study of legs.

Long acting benzodiazepines like Librium works very well for Alcohol withdrawal. But this is a prescription drug so kindly get the prescription from your doctor.

Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarification feel free to ask .

Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta