alcoholism and peripheral neuropathy

My brother-in-law, who has been an alcoholic for years and who is 70, can no longer walk due to peripheral neuropathy.  He is not a diabetic.  I understand that this is due to the alcohol.  I was just wondering how common this is.  As far as anyone knows, his liver is okay, however.  He cannot even bathe himself.  My sister has to do this for him.  I know that the first thing that comes to mind with alcoholism is the liver, but it seems that alcohol can affect many, many systems of the body.  Has anyone on this forum with alcohol-induced liver problems been affected in any other way from the alcohol?  My sister seems unable to admit to the alcoholism.  I believe that the addiction is a disease and not really a character flaw and that her thinking has in the past kept her from helping him in some way.  Instead, she has always been in denial about it. 

Georgia.

Well, when he went to the neurologist about his peripheral neuropathy they did a battery of tests (not including any scans) and he did not have diabetes as a cause for it.  They ruled out everything else.  No one knows the current status of his liver because he will not get the blood work done.  In fact, he recently saw the neurologist for a refill of Lyrica and asked the doctor if there was anything to be done besides the medication.  The neurologist answered him that no, there was nothing else.  I feel sure that they recommended cessation of alcohol but he would never do that. 

My sister was also in denial about her children's drug use.  All three were addicted to methamphetamine and two were selling and manufacturing.  Until

they were in trouble legally, she buried her head in the sand about it.  Interestingly enough, the children wish she had paid more attention. 

As far as my brother-in-law's liver, I have not noted any edema and he has no palmar erythema.  Would it be possible for him to have liver disease without any outward physical signs?

Georgia.