Alcohol was worsening my joint pain…I didn’t know this was a thing.
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Anonymous
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I admit, I’ve been drinking a lot these past several months because of work stress. (Tequila is my alcohol of choice. 😶😶)
On top of that, worsening knee and other joint pain has been nearly crippling me. I’ve been walking like an 80-year-old granny lately. I could tell that I would feel much better when I’d not drink for a few days, but I didn’t want to admit it to myself. I haven’t had a drink since Saturday, and I’m feeling better again. I’m grateful to be free from the pain, but this no drinking thing will take some adjusting. Also, I have been a bit depressed because of COVID and peri menopausal weight gain, so it’s been so damn hard for me to stick to any real workout regimen. (In my pre-2020 life, I was a gym rat. I also have a ton of workout equipment here at home.) My brain is just so tired all the time….every day. I don’t want to do anything. I feel so lazy! Maybe I’ll feel better once I get rid of all the alcohol bloat. This is just a general confessional for me. I have no questions, I guess….. 😏😏😏 |
Anonymous
| You should go see a rheumatologist if the pains come back. That’s how RA and many other autoimmune diseases start. Brain fog, fatigue, intermittent joint pain, female, early/mid 40s |
Anonymous
| I’m in my mid-40s and have started noticing this in the past few months. I think it might be time for me to kick the sauce. |
Anonymous
Yeah, I’ve always been a heavy weight drinker with no physical issues, so this is very new. I guess this is another thing aging takes from us… [OP] |
Anonymous
| Alcohol is extremely inflammatory |
Anonymous
Actually, it is what years and years of heavy drinking does to you. |
Anonymous
| You are me but a 1.6 months ago! I was dealing with crushing work stress due to the pandemic and coping with cocktail hour and eating whatever. Developed RA. Solved this with new job, started on a biologic, regular workouts, paleo, and cutting back on cocktails. SO MUCH BETTER!! |
Anonymous
| Quitting my daily 2-3 (4?) IPAs made a huge difference. No booze for 18 months, and I don't miss it at all. Never thought I'd say that! |
Anonymous
Thank you for this testimony! ❤️❤️ Seriously, 2020 hitting right when I turned 45 (and my body changing) really messed up my mind. I’m trying so hard to get better. I will force myself to start working out again. I’ll get there. [OP] |
Anonymous
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Alcohol is literally a toxin that causes inflammation.
Most people north of 40 feel the effects of drinking (even small amounts). It’s wise to quit. You won’t miss it. |
Anonymous
Sorry meant 1 year 6 months. Im currently 49. So yes, Im right there with you. |
Anonymous
You will miss it but you will feel so much better that it will be ok. You make peace with it. |
Anonymous
| I have dealt with RA since my mid-30s. i cannot drink wine anymore. i become instantly inflamed. |
Anonymous
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Cutting way back on alcohol or quitting completely also helps clear up the brain fog - at least to some degree. Peri menopausal brain fog is a thing.
I cut back on alcohol at the first of the year and feel so much better. I enjoy drinking and never felt truly awful or anything, but I was tired of feeling sluggish, bloated and exhausted (I don’t sleep well after drinking). After about a month of no alcohol, I gradually resumed. But I’ll have one drink only about once per week now. |
Anonymous
This is literally me, but I don’t drink alcohol at all (not OP). Can a rheumatologist really do anything? |