I’m not looking for medical advice, but more understanding. I have chronic back pain. I can alleviate it completely with only 2 things - alcohol and a heating pad. Ibuprofen lessens it but it’s still present. Muscle relaxers do nothing (which makes sense because it’s not muscle related, it’s spinal disk degeneration).

A tall glass of whiskey makes my back relax and I can move normally. Once it wears off tho, it’s right back to tense and painful.

  • palordrolap@fedia.io
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    5 days ago

    Alcohol is a known muscle relaxant. That fact is even a plot point early in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but I digress.

    It’s also something of a mind relaxant. If your pain is made worse by tensing up worrying about the pain, then alcohol is going to help both ways, because you’ll be less able to worry and you won’t be able to tense quite so much anyway.

    I’d be surprised if neither ibuprofen nor diclofenac have any effect at all - but don’t take those with alcohol in your system. Liver damage is not something you want to add to your list of ailments.

    Consult a physician, etc.

    • protist@mander.xyz
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      5 days ago

      While we’re talking about OTC NSAIDs, might should mention aspirin and acetaminophen/tylenol have even higher risk of liver damage when used with alcohol

      • steeznson@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        Yes, having paracetamol for the hangover after you’ve been binge drinking puts a lot of strain on your liver so best avoided.

        I knew someone in uni who’d have a xanax if they felt they would have a hangover the next day. Had to tell them it was a borderline suicidal “trick” because they were potentiating all the booze in their system, SMH.