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Question about alcohol as painkiller.

Had an accident at the weekend, fell from quite high, landed on my arm. Had it x-rayed, nothing broken.

I hurts quite bad. Not the worst I have ever felt, but it is constant, instead of coming and going like all my past injuries.Been taking the doses of ibuprofen and paracetamol recommended to me, it takes the edge off, but still constant pain.

I have had a few beers as a recreational thing tonight, and now it feels fine. I allowed six hours after my last dose of pharms, so think I should be OK for the recommendation not to mix with alcohol.

My question is, I have seen a few sites that say alcohol is not a pain reliever, so why is it the only thing that has stopped my arm hurting, instead of just making it less bad?

Don't worry, I'm not going to to drink constantly, I just wonder why the medical sites and my experience are so different.
3 Responses
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12052179 tn?1423156604
Alcohol has been used as an analgesic since it was discovered. In fact, up until around 1913, it was part of the US Pharmacopoeia.

While it has no 'direct' usage for pain relief, it is, in fact, very potent in the way of dulling the CNS, therefore having the ability to dull pain. Absolutely.

Alexander S.D. Spiers wrote a short article on the efficacy of alcohol for pain control: http://www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/10/29/alcohol-pain-relief

So yeah -- it is/can be used as a mild analgesic. However, one must be careful using it due to tolerance and addiction. But, the same is true for most pain relief medications, and even for laxatives (yes, there is such a thing as laxative abuse o.0)

If it's a temporary problem, and the alcohol works for you, I would use it as needed. There's nothing wrong with it, especially if it works. You'll be looked down on more using pain medication than you will using alcohol.
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Avatar universal
Everybody poo-poos alcohol because people get addicted to it and become drunks. And the lovely CRSeaside is right: people won't jump up and down telling you to drink. But, hey, you gotta do what you gotta do... a sip o' beer ain't gonna kill you if it helps your pain, and you aren't taking ANY other meds, AND (i gotta say this here) you have the "okay" from your DOCTOR to do so.
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6726276 tn?1421126668
Nobody is going to recommend booze. I take a drink when in pain too. It relaxes whole body & mind. So like you said, use in moderation.
Sorry you hurt yourself. Maxy
Helpful - 0
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