Alcohol’s Role in Chronic Pain

It’s been a long week, and you finally settle in on the couch with a glass of wine, hoping to unwind. The warmth spreads through you, taking the edge off that persistent ache in your back — the one that’s been nagging you for days. For a moment, you feel some relief as the pain fades. But when morning comes, the pain is back — stronger, more stubborn, and now with a headache to match. 

For those living with chronic pain, this may be a familiar scenario. Alcohol might seem like a quick fix, but its role in the cycle of pain is far from simple. Let’s delve into how alcohol affects chronic pain, and what that means for those of us who are seeking real, lasting relief. 

Does Alcohol Help With Pain?

Perhaps you bumped your knee on the corner of the table and didn’t feel it until the day after drinking. Or, the ache in your lower back seems to disappear after a drink or two. Now you’re left wondering, “Does alcohol numb pain?” To a certain extent it does — but not without drawbacks.

Alcohol reduces the perception of pain. So, it’s not that we’re any less hurt or that alcohol makes the pain go away, it’s that the messaging within our brain and body get disrupted, and we don’t register the signal of pain as well. Because of this, alcohol can seem like a quick fix for pain. But there’s more to the story. 

Using alcohol as a pain reliever can lead to many issues (which we’ll go into more detail on later). One of these issues is actually worse pain. What started out as an injury that just needed time to heal can become a lingering and chronic issue. 

What Is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than its normal healing time. It can be continuous pain, or it can come and go but persist for a prolonged period of time. Some causes of chronic pain include injuries, health conditions or diseases, and even psychological issues. 

The main symptom of chronic pain is, of course, pain, but it can also cause a range of other symptoms such as fatigue, appetite loss, trouble sleeping, and mood changes. 

As we can see, chronic pain can significantly impact our quality of life. When we add alcohol to the equation, things can get even worse.

Alcohol’s Direct Impact on Chronic Pain

Excessive and chronic drinking can actually cause chronic pain. Here’s why:

• Alcohol damages our nerves. Alcohol is toxic to our nerve cells, impairing their ability to transmit signals effectively. Over time, this leads to nerve damage, known as alcoholic neuropathy. Symptoms include tingling, numbness, burning sensations, and sharp pain. 
• Alcohol changes the way our brain processes pain. Alcohol interferes with our brain’s chemical messengers (neurotransmitters). Specifically, it disrupts neurotransmitters involved in pain regulation, such as serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This disruption can heighten pain sensitivity in the long run, leading to or adding to chronic pain.
• Alcohol impacts the activation of our immune system. Alcohol weakens our immune system, making it less effective at fighting off infections and repairing tissues. This is because alcohol disrupts the balance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, which are signaling molecules that regulate our immune response. An impaired immune response can contribute to exacerbated pain and hinder healing.
• Alcohol causes chronic inflammation. It does this by increasing the production of inflammatory markers like cytokines. This leads to tissue damage and, as a result, worse pain. Inflammation is an underlying factor in many chronic pain conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. 

If we already experience chronic pain, these issues can add to it, compounding the effects. But that’s not all: alcohol can worsen chronic pain in more obscure ways. 

Alcohol’s Indirect Impact on Chronic Pain

Alcohol has negative impacts on different aspects of our lives, many of which contribute to pain. The combination of these factors can make chronic pain even worse: 

• Poor sleep quality. Drinking disrupts our REM sleep. So, even though we might fall asleep quickly, our sleep quality may be lacking. Research shows that sleeping reduces inflammation, promotes cell regeneration, and increases pain sensitivity — all of which help reduce pain. 
• Increased stress. Alcohol alters our brain chemistry, leading to anxiety and stress that can intensify our perception of pain. In one study, participants who were stressed had lower pain tolerance during the cold pressor test (a procedure that induces stress by immersing a limb in cold water for a period of time). Added stress also triggers the body’s inflammatory response, worsening chronic pain symptoms. 
• Other health issues. Alcohol is toxic to our body. Every time we drink, it not only disrupts normal bodily functions but also damages our cells and organs. This can lead to many health issues, including liver damage, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, GI discomfort, and much more. Symptoms of these health conditions can involve inflammation and pain, adding to our chronic pain. 

As we can see, alcohol contributes to chronic pain in many ways. So, can we still drink?

Can You Drink Alcohol With Chronic Pain?

Drinking alcohol with chronic pain isn’t recommended. Not only can it worsen chronic pain, but it also can create a cycle of dependence. 

Let’s say we’re sick and tired of the constant pain, and we decide to have a drink to take the edge off. It might numb the pain temporarily, but at a cost. When we drink, our brain releases serotonin and dopamine (our brain’s “feel good” hormones), which help us relax in the moment and feel a sense of pleasure. Alcohol can also help us relax physiologically by slowing down our heartbeat and releasing tension in our muscles (again, temporarily). These things alone can take over our brain’s reward system and drive us to come back for more.

When we add pain relief to that, our desire to drink can increase, heightening our risk of dependence. In this way, the consequences of drinking with chronic pain become greater, and our goal — relieving our pain — becomes all the more remote.

Alcohol not only worsens chronic pain but also leads to many other health issues. So, if alcohol isn’t a viable solution for pain relief, what is?

Tips for Living Pain-Free

There is no current cure for chronic pain,but making positive lifestyle changes can help manage it. Here are several strategies to consider:

• Gentle exercise. Gentle stretching or low-impact movement such as walking, yoga, and Pilates increases blood flow and produces endorphins, which promote overall well-being without putting too much stress on our body and lead to more pain. 
• Anti-inflammatory diet. Nutrition plays a key role in healing and reducing inflammation. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. 
• Sleep aids. Sleep is essential for healing and reducing stress. But pain can impact our sleep, creating a vicious cycle where we lack rest and have more pain. Try sleep aids such as magnesium, melatonin, and even meditation to get a more well-rested night of sleep.
• Stress management. Managing stress can help relieve pain. Try disconnecting from social media, spending time in nature, journaling, or exploring hobbies.
• Alternative treatments. Holistic treatments such as acupuncture, cryotherapy, and red light therapy have also been found to reduce pain by addressing different facets of our health. 
• Community support. Engaging with others who may be going through a similar experience, venting with those who can empathize, and getting professional advice can help us navigate the journey to better health with a sense of connection and empowerment. 

A life with less pain is within reach when we make these positive lifestyle changes! On top of that, our overall health will improve so we can enjoy a better quality of life.

Key Takeaways

While alcohol might offer temporary pain relief, its long-term effects often exacerbate the problem, leading to a cycle of increased pain and reliance that’s difficult to break. Now that we understand the major role that alcohol can play in chronic pain, we can implement healthier, more sustainable ways to manage it. We can break free from this cycle and work towards a pain-free life by quitting or cutting back on alcohol.