At the end of a long hard day, many people just want to put their feet up and relax, and some also choose to kick back with a beer or a cocktail. Alcohol can affect our mood and our stress level, and it can even help to take our mind off the stressors of the day. However, it’s far from a perfect crutch to lean on if you are battling a chronic pain condition. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the effects of alcohol as it pertains to someone dealing with a chronic pain condition.

Alcohol and Chronic Pain

Even when used responsibly, alcohol can cause problems with our bodies. It can lead to nerve damage and increase our risk for certain types of cancers. However, research shows that a large portion of chronic pain patients are turning to alcohol to help cope with their pain condition. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, roughly 28 percent of chronic pain patients self-medicate with alcohol. That’s more than 1 in 4 pain patients.

The reason many people turn to alcohol is because of the short term relief it appears to provide. It helps to drown out pain signals from nerves and mental stressors like anxiety and depression. The problem is that it doesn’t do this in a healthy way. The short term relief can eventually give way to long term issues, including worsening chronic pain conditions. Nerve signals can become more problematic as the nerves are damaged from alcohol consumption, and relying on alcohol can also push a person further away from healthy treatment options.

For example, drinking alcohol is easier than getting regular exercise, but the benefits of exercise far outweigh the benefits of alcohol. Many people can find the same relief through each option, but one option does this in a positive, healthy way and the other does it in a way that jeopardizes our short- and long-term health. Alcohol intake can also cause problems if you are taking medications, making them ineffective or increasing your risk of dependence, abuse or overdose.

Interestingly, the effects of alcohol on chronic pain have been studied by researchers in the past, and they have found that mild to moderate alcohol intake (1-2 drinks per day) was associated with a slight reduction in anxiety and pain scores. However, researchers don’t believe that this was due to the physical effect alcohol had on the body. Instead, they believe it had to do with the social effects it had on patients, lowering inhibitions and making patients more socially active. Long term it can cause nerve damage, but in the short term it can trick your brain into getting you into a better mindset, and there are positive associations between improved mental health and similar improvements in physical health.

At the end of the day, please use alcohol responsibly if you have a chronic pain condition. Alcohol should never be used as a coping or treatment strategy, because there are so many healthier and more effective options. If you’re struggling with a pain condition and are trying to find a healthy way to treat it, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.