Alcohol.

[Calceolaria]

Does anyone find that alcohol helps ? Is it a worse option than big meds ?

[joe69]

In the last 2yr, drink has been put to the back of my mind....the pain am in and the tabs am on just don't mix...

Before, I was out most weekends, at the footie, but now No, alcohol is the last thing on my mind...

Because am on a lot of meds, I would just have to sniff a pint, then I would be gone....

To me the now, alcohol ain't worth it....

Joe

[Bananas5]

Alcohol does feature very heavily in the lives of many cp sufferers. Any drink mixed with drugs is advised against but with strong pain killers can be even more dangerous. Apart from not allowing the drugs to work properly it can lead to more serious adiction.

Many pain clinics turn a blind eye to the amount of alcohol patients consume.

They realise for some it has the effect of blocking the world and pain out.

Pat x

[KittyGalore]

Alcohol instead of medication? That would only be a quick fix and just lead to more problems down the line. It's also a depressant so you'd end up feeling much worse.

Alcohol and medication? A definite no. I learnt that the hard way! Can Make You really ill. I only did it once and couldn't remember what had happened, so very dangerous.

Take your meds as prescribed and regularly.

Alternative therapies might also be worth a shot depending what your problems are x

[Calceolaria]

I don't/can't take meds, that's the thing. If that sounds impossible, it is ! Somewhat like being slowly and systematically tortured I imagine.

I'm certainly not advocating alcohol dependency. I noticed last night that after a couple of glasses of wine, my pains were marginally improved and it lasted hours. Also, it was pleasant and I suppose, less toxic than meds? But this post isn't an apologia for alchohol substitution, more of a scientific query. I'm not on the slippery slope, I do see alternative therapists, have 2 tens, lidocaine patches, capsaicin cream etc and about to return to pain clinic re facet joint injections. I agree that some people with cp may use alchohol with meds, very dangerous .

[johnsmith]

Don't know the answer to this. Just read Cracked by James Davies ISBN 978-184831-556-3. The book details the dishonesty of the pharmaceuticals and the bribing of top ranking doctors to give medication that is not better than placebo but with side effects.

There have been no trials on alcohol because pharmaceuticals cannot make money from it. One does wonder if alcohol applied in the correct dose and in the correct way will be an improvement on some of the mind numbing medication that is handed out by doctors.

Go and ask your GP to see what science journal information they can find.

[Calceolaria in reply to johnsmith]

That's what Im getting at John ! Thank you !

[JackieWann]

I miss a drink ...

Some days l think l could so go a cold southern comfort and lemo

But it's not a good thing to drink with strong meds

I did it about two years ago at a barbi I thought cocktails would be good

NOT !!

[rowantree]

Calceolaria I can't take oral meds either. (Or the ones i can take dont work anyway so ive stopped taking them!) I have various creams, splints etc and I get what you mean about the occasional drink. Sometimes it just gives me a break from putting up with being in pain. If you're not on any meds, and don't have an alcohol addiction, or a physical reason why you shouldn't drink, then I don't see why a couple of drinks once or twice a week would be a bad thing. Enjoy. Everything in moderation eh.

[tettridge]

Hi all

The thing with these serious illnesses is the good things the fun thing and the entertaining part of your life seems to go perhaps slowly at first so you do not notice it then you realise you cant go out and have a drink or even the ones indoors stop, I used to be a Single malt man but had to give that up, then my other drink was brandy and that had to stop also, even a cheap one with lots of lemonade just reacts on my hiatus hernia, just so unfair and that is without the drugs, that was when I was taking the tramadol and things and now with the morphine it would definitely be a no go area.

Kindest regards

Terry

[Calceolaria]

Best wishes Terry.

[Boozybird]

I have used wine as a pain reliever for years! I think it works better than anything I've tried from the chemist. Unfortunately, it's not without 'side effects' either. it's obvs highly addictive and creates a tolerance so you have to keep upping the dose and I realise I've spent decades sloshed! So, not pleasant for family etc.. The worse thing tho (just read a book about alcohol dependency ) and recognised this problem, is that it creates a background state of anxiety relieved by...yes, alcohol. Gah! My crutch needs to go!! best wishes

[Calceolaria]

Well chosen pen-name ! But what I'm wondering is, are those side effects and the dependency worse than some described by those on here who are taking big meds? In one respect, wine is a food, it is packed with flavinoids, they tell us. I don't think I could take this query to my doctor for fear of being labelled - Tell me doc, would a vodka shot or whatever, after food three times a day be worse than (take your pick - naproxen, Tramadol, co-codamol, gabapentin etc) ?

[Boozybird in reply to Calceolaria]

Haha...good rationalisation with the flavonoids....here's another one: Florence nightingale apparently had a bad back so used to take laudanum - red wine and opium! That 'encouraged' me to keep going.....in terms of food - wine is packed with stablisers and god knows what crap to keep the shelf life long but I believe in Ithica (sp?) in Greece they drink wine every day from the tap and live to be 100 in good health....on the downside, it definitely forms a tolerance so you would need two shots within a month and creates anxiety the following day - not good for resting muscle tension. Interestingly, there was an article about alcoholism ages ago where a doctor cured himself of this problem by taking massive doses of baclofen which is a spinal muscle relaxant. So you could short cut straight to the baclofen if you havent already tried it. I tried it for a long time alongside wine.....it does seem to be the case that the drugs dont seem to do a very good job....have you tried meloxicam and a wine chaser? Medicinal canabinoids?

[teadrinker]

No. End up with bigger headaches and being really drowsy if I drink even small amounts. I think my tolerance to alcohol is very low these days, having had to reduce or completely not drink when on medication.

[Hidden]

know that it is what they say do not drink, I have several drinks a week say over a week it works out at no more than 12 units advised as units on bottle I have always done so and have not been stopped.

Generally speaking the drink can help me relax,we still need some recreation so as long as it is done moderation it can just help get over our concerns regarding condition. This is my own problem although I have not said to anyone that drink is safe, my words a little of what you fancy does you good,although do not go daft.

When I go to the GP for tests, medicals or well man my doctor knows about this and has never said NO .

All the best

BOB

[Calceolaria]

Bob, that sounds sensible.