The effects of alcohol on polymyalgia/myotisis

[Purpleprimate]

My initial diagnosis 3.7 yrs ago was polymyalgia, then aprox 8mths ago Myositis.

After a consultation last wk: Likely Seronegative idiopathic inflammatory myopathy - (bloods & imaging). Muscle biopsy non conclusive PMR (probably because I had been on pred for 3yrs). Anyone know anything about that?!

I stopped drinking all alcohol at the beginning of the year. Three months later, last Friday I had a pint of beer & a glass of wine. Last night I probably had 4 glasses of wine. This morning when I got up both my legs & back were aching which I have not had for some time & the arthritis in my hands seemed worse. I've been tapering (who hasn't!) & am now on 11mg of pred.

I will stop drinking again & see if things settle down

Any advice, comments or observations around alcohol & PMR would be gratefully received. Has anyone had adverse effects from drinking alcohol which has made their symptoms worse?

Thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I didn't think muscle biopsy showed PMR. If it did it would be a handy deal-breaker in the is it/isn't it stakes you'd think.

Let/s face it - after a year off alcohol, that was hardly a gentle reintroduction was it? Some people do find alcohol makes symptoms worse. The question is though - is it the alcohol or the sugars? Because an easter egg binge will do it for some too!

[Purpleprimate in reply to PMRpro]

The muscle biopsy was to try & diagnose Myositis.

It could be that the alcohol was a tipping point for a flare - since my last post I'm feeling even worse, who knows?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Purpleprimate]

Who knows indeed

[Soinoi]

I suddenly developed alcohol intolerance probably about 8 months before I was diagnosed with Sjorgen's and PMR and before starting steroids. Can't honestly say whether there's any connection or not but it's possible. I wasn't a heavy drinker but it became that even a half glass of wine made me feel flushed and like I'd drunk a lot... have stopped drinking alcohol completely for now.

[Koalajane]

a glass of red wine at the weekend does no damage to me!

[krillemy]

I think the biopsy was to test if you had myocytis/ idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, and that it was inconclusive to tell if you had it - maybe due to the pred. for 3.7 years. So now they are back to the PMR diagnosis. I agree with PMRpro - after a longe break from alcohol the hangover can easily present as muscle pain and stress and tricker a minor flair

[Purpleprimate in reply to krillemy]

Yes, that’s precisely what the biopsy was for & yes because I had been taking pred for a long time it masked the result & was therefore inconclusive. As I said I stopped alcohol for 3 months.

[Stills]

I don’t have PMR but Adult onset Stills Disease which manifests as rheumatoid disease in my case. I have other AI conditions that appear to be affiliated to RA. I’m not taking pred but can tell you that more than a glass of wine will cause an increase in joint pain the next day. That makes me feel like another glass to cheer myself up………

[Purpleprimate in reply to Stills]

And another glass! I know precisely what you mean.

[Harrywogan]

Hi,purpleprimate have to say have never stopped having a few glasses of wine or a large G/T and have never had a problem,do have a few alcohol free days but all ok. X

[Gimme]

I'm quite convinced that alcohol aggravates my muscle stiffness. But as has been said, is that the alcohol or the rise in blood sugar that it causes? Since sugar also triggers an exacerbation of symptoms for me.

[Creas]

That's fascinating, thank you for sharing. I was thinking of trying a water only fast for a week but am struggling to find the motivation - but I may just try cutting alcohol out first: it could be as simple as that!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Creas]

Water-only fasts should only be done under supervision and a week is a long time!

[BM-PMR]

Hi Purpleprimate - yes - diagnosed PMR 3 months ago 57 y/o- very healthy and fit for my age, shortly after Christmas and lying around not doing much for a couple of weeks except eating drinking and beach (live in Oz) came down hard with malaria like symptoms bilateral shoulder collar bone seized and pain upper arm pain , hip stiffness and pain. I don’t drink during the week and tapering goi g well back in gym on light weights but the three weekends have had alcohol , three big flares have taken me back to ground zero?? So yes, alcohol appear to be major if not prime trigger for flares - was doing so well !! Feel your pain.

[Bcol]

Not noticed it has any effect on my PMR.

[Polygolfer]

My experience is similar to yours. Alcohol in moderation seems not to interfere with medication but being an inflammatory agent any time you overindulge the results will speak for themselves. Plus it can act in cancelling out some of the effects of the medication so it’s a clear own goal