Alcohol and residual effects

[guzzler]

Hi. Admitted binge drinker here.
A year ago the after-effects of drinking started manifesting in my life... So much that I quit completely for more than half the year. Of particular interest was residual balance problems ( swaying, stumbling, etc. ) and joint weakness ( ankles and knees most noticeably ). Again, these symptoms persisted maybe a couple of months after stopping. I was wondering if anyone could explain them ( I know the focus should just be on drinking responsibly, but I am curious ).

[boogieman]

hi. alcohol can do a number on the nervous system and the effects can last from a few hours to becoming permanent. this is dependent on a lot of things such as consumption, pre-existing conditions and nutrition. as stated above, the safest thing to do would be to address these issues with a physician that you can be honest with about your drinking. best wishes---gm

[DWB484]

If it gave you altered sensations (especially numbness and/or 'pins-and-needles') in your legs or an abnormal, stiff-legged gait, like a puppet on strings walking, you could be experiencing peripheral neuritis (inflammation of the nerves in the extremities) or peripheral neuropathy (damage to those nerves). These are both potentially quite serious and you should seek medical advice. Take care and go easy!