Studies have found that individuals who consume alcohol in moderation have lower inflammation markers than individuals who do not drink alcohol or heavy drinkers. Other studies have found that alcohol abuse can be associated with chronic back pain. Chronic back pain can lead to alcohol dependency; however, regular alcohol over-consumption can contribute to back pain. The role of alcohol when it comes to back pain is a complicated situation because of the variables. There are social drinkers, weekend bingers, etc. Most individuals want answers to questions like:
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Alcohol’s role in back pain can take on different forms, both healthy and harmful, as aforementioned individuals that consume light to moderate amounts of alcoholic beverages have reduced inflammation throughout the body compared to heavy drinkers or those who don’t drink. Another consideration is that many individuals with back pain take medication/s. This can present a series of issues when mixed with alcohol. Most individuals with back pain can drink in moderation. But this is easier said than done because many do not understand the medical definition of moderate drinking.
Moderate drinking is defined as up to one drink a day for women and up to 2 drinks a day for men. A standard drink in the United States is a drink that contains around 0.6 fluid ounces/14 grams of pure alcohol. Alcoholic beverages can vary in terms of how much alcohol they contain. A few examples of different alcoholic beverages that contain the same amount of alcohol and count as one drink:
Medical professionals and national health advisory boards agree in general that moderate drinking is the healthy way to consume alcohol. However, some individuals should avoid alcohol completely, specifically if taking pain medication/s for spine problems/conditions.
Medications, even over-the-counter types like ibuprofen, can cause serious issues when combined with alcohol. Some common back pain medications can create unfavorable reactions when alcohol enters the system:
For those taking medication/s for back pain, there needs to be an understanding of how alcohol interacts with the medication/s. Keeping track of the drug warnings can be challenging, especially if taking multiple medications. It is recommended to follow the expertise of local pharmacists and personal doctors. They will provide an explanation and an understanding of how the medications work together and if alcohol can be safely consumed in moderation or should be avoided.
One benefit of moderate drinking is that it can help the body relax and reduce stress. This can help manage and prevent back pain. However, it is estimated that around 28% of individuals with chronic pain begin to turn to alcohol to manage the pain. This can lead to various problems.
However, chronic drinking to dull back pain can cause the body to develop increased sensitivity to pain. If there is withdrawal from alcohol after months or years of use, an individual may feel pain to a greater degree than before. Because of this, many go back to drinking for pain management. Excessive use can cause significant health issues.
Having an honest conversation about drinking individual habits with a personal doctor is the recommended way to protect your body’s overall health safely. A doctor will help explain how alcohol relates to the individual, as they best understand how alcohol affects their specific spinal condition and how it interacts with treatment.
Alcohol can be included as part of a healthy diet and achieve the body that an individual is working towards. When drinking, try to remember the following:
Ferreira PH, Pinheiro MB, Machado GC, Ferreira ML. Is alcohol intake associated with low back pain? A systematic review of observational studies. Man Ther. 2013;18(3):183-90. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2012.10.007.
Imhof A, Woodward M, Doering N, et al. Overall alcohol intake, beer, wine, and systemic markers of inflammation in western Europe: results from three MONICA samples (Augsburg, Glasgow, Lille). Eur Heart J. December 2004;25(23):2092-2100.
Rethinking Drinking: Alcohol and Your Health. National Institutes of Health: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/. Accessed March 30, 2018.
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The information herein on "Alcohol And Back Pain" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
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Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
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We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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