Using Alcohol to Relieve Your Pain: What Are the Risks? National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

alcohol pain

Sometimes the allergy is really because of an ingredient in the beverage, such as grains or preservatives, and not the alcohol itself. If you feel an increasing amount of pressure while biting down, or if a tooth feels loose or wobbly, this could be another sign of an abscess or infection. In some cases, the tooth may need to be extracted to prevent further damage.

Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. So, while alcohol may solve one problem, it can cause many others and make pain even worse long-term. Alcohol intolerance is caused by a genetic condition in which the body can’t break down alcohol efficiently.

alcohol pain

Individuals should be prepared to be uncomfortable during this period and have someone on call in case medical help is needed. This is the period in which delirium tremens is most likely to occur, which requires immediate medical attention. This process temporarily restores homeostasis, or chemical balance, in an effort to counteract the impact of long-term alcohol use on the brain. When significantly limiting or cutting off alcohol consumption, receiving ongoing support is essential.

Alcohol, Opioids, and Pain – From the Editors

Peppermint tea bags have anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe sore gums and relieve toothache discomfort when applied topically. Soak a peppermint tea bag in hot water for half an hour, then remove it and let it cool down. Place the cold tea bag on your affected teeth for 20 minutes or so until you feel better. A saltwater rinse is another effective way to alleviate toothache owing to its ability to reduce inflammation by drawing out fluids from the gum tissue. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and swish around your mouth for about 30 seconds before spitting it out.

Over time, your body and your brain will get used to the presence of alcohol. In order to produce the same analgesic benefits, you will need to consume an increasing amount as time goes by. This is, of course, a eco sober house review recipe for substance abuse which may prove more damaging to your health than the initial pain condition. In order to avoid this, you should adopt a long-term management strategy designed by a pain specialist.

  • Unlike food, which can take hours to digest, the body absorbs alcohol quickly — long before most other nutrients.
  • Some alcohol intolerance cases are linked to the use of certain medications.
  • Prior to withdrawal, it’s important to have a plan of how you will abstain from alcohol during this time.
  • In some people, symptoms may continue for a few weeks after their last drink, but they will lessen over time.
  • When the receptors are exposed to alcohol, like when you pour alcohol-based disinfectant onto an open cut, the alcohol molecule lowers the temperature threshold required to send this signal.

Unfortunately, nothing can prevent reactions to alcohol or ingredients in alcoholic beverages. To avoid a reaction, avoid alcohol or the particular substance that causes your reaction. In some cases, reactions can be triggered by a true allergy to a grain such as corn, wheat or rye or to another substance in alcoholic beverages.

Medications

A person can improve their outlook by significantly reducing or cutting off their alcohol intake and ensuring that they are receiving the right balance of nutrients. A wide range of support networks and medical treatments are available. The more you drink, especially in a short period of time, the greater your risk of alcohol poisoning.

  • In other words, it takes more alcohol to produce the same results over time.
  • Some people experience a faster onset and progression of alcoholic neuropathy than others.
  • Alcohol intolerance and allergy account for most of the unusual responses that happen after drinking alcoholic beverages.
  • Vanilla extract contains alcohol, which can help numb your sore gums and tooth.
  • Pain that persists or worsens should always be evaluated by a dentist.
  • However, studies have shown that for alcohol to reach the medical levels of pain moderation, one would typically have to consume much more than what’s considered healthy alcohol consumption by the CDC².

Recognizing chronic pain can be a process of trusting the messages your body is giving you, especially if the initial trigger for your pain is no longer present. In fact, it’s indicative that what you’re feeling needs more time to heal. Understanding and addressing the complexities of chronic pain will provide relief and lead to a higher quality of life. One of those insights involves recognizing the impact alcohol has on your chronic pain, and vice versa. During the Middle Ages, people believed that drinking alcohol could alleviate tooth pain. It was a common practice to use brandy or other spirits for relief, although this method was not always effective and could even worsen the condition in some cases.

Having a mild intolerance to alcohol or something else in alcoholic beverages might not require a trip to a doctor. Simply avoid alcohol, limit how much you drink or avoid certain types of alcoholic beverages. On the other hand, alcohol has many detrimental effects that may worsen pain symptoms.

How to manage chronic pain without alcohol

Drinking too much too quickly can affect breathing, heart rate, body temperature and gag reflex. The medical community has recognized that addiction https://sober-house.net/ is a disease and that some people are predisposed to it. As a result, it is usually necessary to get medical help to manage alcohol use disorder.

A combination of good oral hygiene practices and regular dental check-ups is the most effective way to prevent tooth pain and other related dental problems. These nociceptive processes reflect the unifying principle of homeostasis, the process by which complex physiological systems maintain biological stability. Simply put, what goes up must eventually come down to achieve a balanced resting state. As such, understanding the AUD/OUD–pain relationship is among the most urgent public health challenges confronting us today.

Dab a small amount of vanilla extract onto the affected area with a cotton swab for temporary relieve pain. Additionally, alcohol has anti-inflammatory properties which can further reduce swelling and irritation around an inflamed tooth or gums. By Sarah Bence

Sarah Bence, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist and freelance writer. She specializes in a variety of health topics including mental health, dementia, celiac disease, and endometriosis. Gathering a supportive network of friends and family members, as well as an addiction support group or even an inpatient rehabilitation center, can help you through this process.

It’s estimated that 90% of people who drink excessively would not meet the diagnostic criteria of alcohol use disorder. But both binge and heavy drinking put a person at higher risk of developing it over time. There was a study of 724 participants with gout, and it concluded that moderate amounts of alcoholic beverages, regardless of the type, increased the risk of gout attacks. The study also advised that individuals with gout should limit alcohol intake of all types to reduce the risk of reoccurring attacks.

Chronic Drinking Can Increase Pain Sensitivity, Study Says

Whether it’s rubbing whiskey onto your gums or rinsing with beer, using alcohol to treat tooth pain is still a widely debated topic. Each of the following conditions may also come with its own unique set of symptoms that you might experience in addition to abdominal or back aches. While liver pain often feels like a persistent dull ache or throbbing sensation, gallbladder pain tends to be more sharp and severe. Gallbladder pain also tends to come on suddenly—usually after eating a heavy meal or when lying down at night—and comes in waves, lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.

Alcohol and Chronic Pain: Does Drinking Hurt More Than It Helps?

Additional studies need to be concluded to determine the different types of alcoholic drinks and how they relate to OA. When speaking with a doctor, it is important to be honest about alcohol consumption. There are several possible causes of neuropathy, and knowing about a person’s alcohol intake can help the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis. Both the toxicity of alcohol and nutritional deficiencies in those who drink heavily have been linked with nerve pain in alcoholic neuropathy. It’s important to note that three to four drinks exceeds the standard definition of moderate drinking (up to one drink per day for women and up to two for men). Significant pain relief therefore requires drinking more than is generally healthy.

Chronic gastritis is a long-term condition where the stomach lining remains inflamed and is worn down over time. Those who consume alcohol regularly may only experience minor symptoms for an extended period, because of decreased sensitivity from continued alcohol use. Your journey changing your relationship with alcohol and managing chronic pain will be enriched when shared and experienced with others. There’s truth in the saying, “when you heal, I heal.” Adopting a sobriety or moderation goal can afford you the space and energy to find a long-term chronic pain management plan that works for you. One of the hardest truths to accept in any chronic pain journey is that healing is a lifelong process. We have to grieve what we once had, and can celebrate what’s to come.

The risks of using alcohol to cope with pain

Besides the long-term health problems that can develop, prolonged use of alcohol can lead to a chemical dependency on alcohol itself, which can bring about a whole set of problems of its own. Symptoms related to chronic gastritis may not be addressed, as early as needed, because of the gradual effects. It is important to share any history of alcohol use with your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor will need to rule out other potential causes for your symptoms.