Many people report feeling more relaxed or numb once the “buzz” of a few drinks hits their system. But does this mean that alcohol can help relieve back pain? Others report that they actually experience an increase in back pain when they enjoy an alcoholic beverage. What is really going on here?
To be honest, it really depends on what is causing your back pain. If the pain is due to a tense or contracted muscle putting pressure on the sciatic nerve, for example, drinking alcohol can help.
For example, I suffered from piriformis syndrome, which is a tight muscle in the pelvis that causes pain by crushing the sciatic nerve. I found that an occasional drink would help relax the muscles in my body and release the tension in my Pirifomris.
Now this is not an excuse to abuse alcohol. If you suffer from pain caused by muscle tension, you should address it by naturally loosening your muscles and releasing the tension. The best way to do this is by stretching the muscles and helping them relax.
Relying on alcohol to treat back pain in this way is like using pain relievers to treat back pain. You don’t really treat the underlying problem, you just temporarily get rid of the pain. Never use alcohol as a “fix” to your back pain problem.
However, some people also complain of back pain that occurs when they drink alcohol.
Alcohol can also cause inflammation in your body, which in turn can promote back pain. In this way, alcohol can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it can help relax muscles, but at the same time it can promote inflammation.
However, the story does not end there.
Now, I’m not a medical professional, so you should probably talk to your doctor about this. However, I know that people can develop kidney stones that can cause pain like this.
Your kidneys are located in your lower torso, and kidney pain can easily be mistaken for general back pain.
Alcohol acts as a diuretic, which means it makes you have to urinate. When this happens, your kidneys make more urine. But if there is a blockage in the kidneys, such as a kidney stone that could interfere with urine production, then you may experience pain.
If this is the cause of your pain, then other liquids like coffee should also cause back pain.
There could also be other causes for your pain. It can be difficult to diagnose the cause of your back pain without knowing more about yourself, your lifestyle, and your overall health. It is important to seek the advice of your doctor to better understand what is behind the pain. Again, alcohol should not be used as a way to treat pain or to deal with any type of health condition you may be suffering from.
