Nagging knee pain can be frustrating and life limiting. If you struggle with knee pain, it's important to find the cause of it and address it there, rather than treating the symptoms. That is the only way to truly treat chronic knee pain long term (and any injury, in fact). One contributing risk factor of pain in general can be the consumption of alcohol. Heavy drinking comes with its general health risks but in terms of pain, you may be at increased risk of suffering joint discomfort if you are a regular drinker.
There is some evidence linking alcohol consumption to joint pain, including knee pain. Here are some key points from the research:
- Two population-based cross-sectional studies found that regular or excessive alcohol use and frequent intoxication were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting recurrent knee pain and chronic pain lasting greater than 6 months among women.
- Alcohol can deplete the body of water and nutrients, which can increase inflammation and exacerbate joint pain.
- Alcohol can negatively impact the gut's ability to absorb and process crucial nutrients, which can affect joint disease management.
- Alcohol can be linked to other health conditions that make joint pain worse or affect the body's resilience against pain perception.
- Moderate drinking may reduce some risks of developing arthritis, but if you already suffer from arthritis or a condition like gout, it may do more harm than good.
- Many of the medicines prescribed to relieve sore joints don't mix well with alcohol, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen, which carry a greater risk for stomach bleeding and ulcers when you drink.
Overall, while there is no direct evidence that alcohol causes knee pain, excessive alcohol consumption may be associated with poorer pain-related functioning and an increased likelihood of reporting recurrent knee pain. If you experience chronic knee pain, it may be worth considering reducing your alcohol consumption or speaking to your doctor about whether it's safe for you to consume alcohol.
Alcohol and arthritis links
Alcohol consumption and arthritis have a complex relationship, and the effects of alcohol on arthritis may depend on the type of arthritis, the amount of alcohol consumed, and other personal risk factors.
Positive effects of moderate alcohol consumption on arthritis:
- Moderate alcohol consumption might reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by reducing biomarkers of inflammation.
- Some studies have shown that alcohol may help with some symptoms of arthritis, more specifically rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
However, there are much more well rounded approaches to earn a reduced risk of RA as you become older, including exercise and general movement.
Negative effects of alcohol consumption on arthritis:
- Alcohol can negatively impact the gut's ability to absorb and process crucial nutrients, which can affect joint disease management.
- Alcohol can deplete the body of water and nutrients, which can increase inflammation and exacerbate joint pain.
- Chronic alcohol consumption may increase susceptibility to the development and/or progression of osteoarthritis.
- Alcohol's inflammatory effects can aggravate both degenerative joint pain from osteoarthritis and autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Many of the medicines prescribed to relieve sore joints don't mix well with alcohol, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen, which carry a greater risk for stomach bleeding and ulcers when you drink.
Overall, while moderate alcohol consumption may have some benefits for reducing the risk of developing RA, excessive alcohol consumption may have more downsides than pluses for people with arthritis. If you have arthritis of the knee, it is important to discuss your alcohol intake honestly and accurately with your doctor, who can tell you whether cutting down your intake might improve your symptoms and overall wellness.
Alcohol and gout
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystals that form in and around the joints, often causing chronic joint pain. Drinking too much alcohol, especially beer and spirits, can increase urate levels and the risk of triggering a gout attack. Beer is particularly bad, as it contains a lot of purines. Drinking small amounts of wine doesn’t appear to increase the risk of triggering an attack.
Alcohol increases the production of uric acid and reduces how much is removed from the body in the urine. Drinking any type of alcohol can increase the likelihood of experiencing recurrent flares and episodes of gout, and heavier drinking is associated with a greater risk. However, even moderate drinking can increase the risk of gout. Drinking sugary drinks and drinks with high levels of fructose can also increase the risk of gout.
People with gout and a history of kidney stones should drink at least two litres of water a day to decrease the chance of stones forming. They should also avoid sweetened soft drinks because they contain large amounts of sugar and can increase the risk of gout. While fruit and fresh fruit juices contain sugar, the benefits of eating fruit far outweigh any negatives. Reducing how much sugar you consume from other sources is a healthier option than cutting out some of your five a day.
If you think gout is the cause of your knee pain, you should visit a doctor for blood tests to accurately test for this.
Other effects of alcohol on the body
Excessively drinking alcoholic beverages can have several effects on the body that could contribute to knee pain. Chronic alcohol use can impair gut and can cause liver damage, leading to persistent systemic inflammation and ultimately organ damage. Alcohol can also negatively impact the gut's ability to absorb and process crucial nutrients, which can affect joint disease management and weaken the immune system. Additionally, alcohol can deplete the body of water and nutrients, which can increase inflammation and exacerbate joint pain. Dehydration can cause joint pain because of the lubricating effect it has on the joints. Synovial fluid is the thick lubrication located between the joints, giving you a cushion so the bones don’t come in contact. This fluid is located in the joints throughout your body: hips, knees, feet, shoulders, and hands. If you are hydrated, then the gel-like liquid provides nutrition, shock-absorption, lubrication, and cushioning in the joints. When the fluid is not sufficient, then there is less lubrication in the joints, which leads to the development of joint pain. Therefore, it is important to stay hydrated and limit alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of knee pain.
To avoid negative effects of alcohol on joint pain specifically, you should ideally drink moderate amounts of alcohol. This will not only avoid things like gout attacks and inflammatory diseases, with will generally maintain your quality of life and avoid any detrimental effects on your mental health with have a knock-on effect on how active you are which in turn leads to a potential loss of muscle strength, affecting your entire body.
Of course, the odd glass of red wine isn't going to instantly bring on gout symptoms but the more a person drinks, the higher risk they are of suffering from some sort of chronic health conditions. Eating a balanced diet, resistance training 2-3 days per week and getting outside to move around give you the foundations of a pain-free, healthy lifestyle.
