Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Alcohol Helps??

Today's Toronto Star included a story on a new report in the journal, Rheumatology, today. Apparently, a study has shown that booze helps pain and inflammation/disease activity in patients with RA.

Feeling Less Pain by Nancy White

I know alcohol has pain killing properties, but who'd've thunk it would help disease progression too. So, is this going to result in a run on liquor stores across the nation? Should it result in this??? Will this give people an excuse? And what about the effects on AS darnit!??

There are definite negative aspects to this report. Including the use of alcohol with the meds we take on a regular basis, not to mention the effect on depression levels.

What do you all think?

Warm hugs,

Hi Kat,
I used to drink regularly at one time, but it's been about 15 years since my last drop, I think. No wait, I think I did have one drink on one or two nights since then. But yes, it used to help me with my pain. I stopped because I didn't like the other effects it had on me and the people I drank with, when we had a little too much that night I mean. I couldn't have a drink now if I wanted to because of the medications I take, but sometimes I think about it.

Does anyone here have a drink once in a while even though their medications say it might not be safe to do so? I'm just curious.

Take care,
James.

i don't bother with al-kee-hol anymore,makes me anxious/nervous the day after and the recovery time,from as little as 4 beers,is just too much for me these days,i'm 55.

in my early 20's when the AS kicked in, it was a different sort of pain in the early days,the al-kee-hol helped me sleep at night.

i gave up drinking for 8 years in my late 20s because i was drinking far too much.sound familiar?

Hi, James. This is the kind of thing I'm talking about. Do the negative effects of alcohol consumption outweigh the positives? In your case, you found they didn't and so you stopped. I fear that problem drinkers might see this study as an excuse to continue drinking, as if it validates their claim that the only reason they drink is pain control.

Warm hugs,

Yah, it does sound familiar. In my time volunteering for The Arthritis Society, I've heard sleep as the reason for a few drinks at night (despite conflicting meds) many times. Thing is that while it might make a body go to sleep, it actually disrupts later stages of sleep and is often a contributor to sleep apnea (due to relaxed throat muscles in part).

This article from sleepdex.org is enlightening about the truth of sleep and alcohol: Alcohol and Sleep

Good decision to stop on your part.

Hugs,

I mentioned in the other, similar post, that I've never been much of a drinker - except for a few wild runs in University.
I've just never been able to cope with just how horrible it made me feel.
Now, I really just can't tolerate it. And, I mean right away. One drink is about it. (which really stinks, because I do enjoy a nice glass of white wine, a gin and tonic or a fruity Marguerita!) I feel crumby pretty much right away. It's just not enjoyable. And if I do manage to get past one drink, let me tell you, it's more than a hang over; it's a week of decreased health that just isn't worth it. Fatigue, pain, general malaise.
I've deduced that it is all blood sugar related. It's the same affect I get when I overdo the sugars and carbohydrates. Makes sense to me.
But I'm sure everyone's body reacts uniquely.
Next up "medicinal cocktail hour" on our income taxes?
Tracey

I had to chuckle when I read this:

Next up "medicinal cocktail hour" on our income taxes

My first thought was, only if a small percentage (i.e. 28% as in the current census kafuffle) of the country wants it that way!

Oh, I slay me.

Warm hugs,

Hi again,
I'm in a talkative mood today so...
When I said it helped my AS pain, I mean the warm body numbing feeling helped me through my pain, either that or it was that superman feeling it gave me. I have no idea if it actually reduced my pain through inflammation levels though. Lucky for me, I never really had any bad hangovers, or hardly any hangovers at all (that's rare I suppose), but the problem I had with it was us becoming too macho for our own good, after having one (or a few) too many, and it was always hard for me to stop at just one too, so... I eventually stopped. I never really liked drinking beer though, I preferred the 'fruity' type of drinks better, you know the ones, even though everyone else there was drinking a beer. I never drank in a bar though... just at our little social 'get togethers'.

Just rambling on...
Take care,
James

Edited: the major change has been underlined.

I've been drinking too much since January, for the specific reason that it helps the pain A LOT. I drink almost daily now, since this stupid flare. The fact is, alcohol doesn't have "a mild painkilling effect," it has a GREAT painkilling effect, better than anything else but opiates.

I do happen to have one sister with RA, and she's an alcoholic, oddly enough. And I do have to say her RA doesn't seem to be nearly as bad as it could be, since she's had it over 25 years and she's still walking without even a cane. She's gone through rehab twice now, and I think this time she'll stay sober. I really hope she doesn't see this article.

I agree....it helps with pain alot. I myself have been drinking alot more than my usual so actually a few weeks back I cut back alot. I can say I dont need to drink at all but I do enjoy it. I can drink anything and lots of it and never get a hang over. I think it is my substitute for painkillers which I do not take. On the rare occasion I do take a painkiller I do not ever mix alcohol with it.

Sherri