Alcohol and Chronic Pain

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Some people may need to be careful about drinking alcoholic beverages because of the medications they take for rheumatoid arthritis. Those taking methotrexate may need to avoid alcohol altogether.

Source:  RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/arthritis.html

Question 18
 

Does alcohol have any affect on arthritis?

Drinking alcohol in moderation neither does good or harm to joints affected by arthritis.  Acute alcohol intoxication can result in a sharp rise in  the blood level of uric acid, and can lead to an acute attack of gout.  Prolonged heavy drinking can cause the hip joints to crumble. If a person drinks  to excess for many years, the balls of his or her hip joints start to crumble and die.  This phenomenon is called avascular necrosis.

Source: Arthritis Canada, http://www.arthritis.ca/toolbox/qa%20database/twenty/default.asp?s=1

'No, not that I am aware of, but low iron (or anemia of chronic illness) can be caused by persistent, untreated inflammation and is only resolved by treating the underlying inflammation.' (Nursing Department, Mary Pack Arthritis Program, Sept, 1999)

Question:
Why am I never without pain even when I am taking my pills?

Answer:
The medications which are available to relieve the pain of arthritis are  not entirely satisfactory.  Even the most potent of these medications may not  completely abolish the pain in arthritis.  If however, you are not getting good  relief within a few weeks from the pills subscribed by your doctor, you should  inform them and they may change the type or suggest extra for bad days.  In   general, with the range of medications now available, people with arthritis  should not have to suffer severe pain

Alcohol

Individuals that routinely take medication for arthritis, or any chronic condition, may be particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol. Alcohol and many medications are processed and broken down by the liver. When alcohol is combined with prescription medication, the effects of the medication can be amplified or altered. Excess use of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or alcohol, can damage liver tissue. Check with your doctor about the risks of alcohol use with any medications you are taking.

Alcohol use can be especially risky for those taking nonsteroidal ant-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aspirin. These medications, often used by those who suffer from arthritis pain and inflammation, can irritate the stomach and intestinal tract and increase the chance of developing an ulcer.

Older arthritis sufferers should be extra cautious when using alcohol. Aging can decrease the liver's ability to detoxify alcohol and medications. Confusion, memory lapses, falls and injuries become more common in older individuals who use alcohol.

Some evidence suggests that moderate alcohol use may decrease an individuals risk of heart disease. However, alcohol is a known carcinogen, possibly increasing your risk for cancers of the oral cavity, esophagus, colon, liver, and breast.

Gout and Alcohol

Gout is one form of arthritis that alcohol can clearly exacerbate. Gout is caused by the crystallization of excess uric acid in the joint resulting in severe pain and inflammation. Alcohol increases the production of uric acid and interferes with its secretion. If you suffer from gout, you should avoid or strictly limit alcohol consumption.

References:

Diet and Arthritis. www. arthritis.miningco.com/health/arthritis/library/weekly/aa052097.htm

Osteoarthritis: A Review. www.internalmedicine.medscape.com/ExcerptaMed/ClinCorners.../pnt-clc0202.04.simo.htm

The Arthritis Foundation booklet on, “How to Manage Your Pain,” (1966) lists drinking alcohol as an unhealthy practice for decreasing pain. 40 million in the U.S. are affected by arthritis. 15.5% of Americans suffer from some form, including 1/2 of those who are 65 and over. The cost each year is $149.4 billion.

"Joint Venture: Maintaining Healthy Joints as We Age." Anything the body perceives as an 'offending substance,' such as alcohol and cigarette smoke, may activate the inflammatory process and make the condition more persistent. (Jeffrey S. Bland, President of Healthcomm, Inc., in Gig Harbor, Washington, in Delicious! magazine - May/June 1992)

Dr. James Braly, author of Food Allergy and the Nutrition Revolution, says that arthritis patients seem to do better on a diet that limits alcohol. (Energy Times magazine, March/April 1995)

For those with arthritis, avoid alcohol (he mentions wine) as well as red meat because of the problem resulting in uric acid. If you have gout - no alcohol. (Joseph Disabato, D.P.M., Jefferson Foot and Ankle Associates. Charlottesville, Va., at a Senior Center lecture)

In the 1989 book, “Arthritis: What Works,” by Sobel and Klein: Top rated techniques for fast relief.” Many arthritics report that they suffer increased joint pain after even a small amount of alcohol.

An excess of uric acid in the fluid around the joints causes crystals to form. Cut back on alcohol, as alcohol inhibits the processing of uric acid. Gout is brought on by a build-up of a chemical known as uric acid that is produced during ordinary metabolism. Sometimes the normal balance between the production and excretion becomes upset. (“Medical Mailbox,” by Cory SerVaas, M.D., Saturday Evening Post, Sept./Oct. 1995)

Alcohol

Alcohol can affect how well arthritis drugs work. It can weaken your bones. And it also adds pounds, since alcohol puts extra sugar in your diet.

Drinking alcohol does not mix with certain drugs for arthritis. Stomach problems are more likely if you drink alcohol and take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin. Large amounts of alcohol combined with acetaminophen can damage the liver. Drinking too much alcohol with anti-gout medications may make stomach problems more likely. It may also increase uric acid in the blood, thus lessening the effects of the medication. If you are taking any medications for arthritis, check with your doctor about using alcohol.