Comments on: Why does Beer not like me?

Question: Why does Beer not like me?

twistedonion — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 08:56:10 -0800

For some reason, the first few sips of beer give me sharp pains in my shoulder and elbow joints. First noticed it a few years ago and forgot all about it until last weekend as I only drink red wine and the occassional pint of cider now.

I have no known allergies at all and the pain in my joints goes away after around about the first half pint of beer. Whether this is due to the alcohol numbing it I don't know. My question is - should I worry about it, especially considering I might have a beer once in a blue moon. Also, any ideas as to why this is happening? Cheers!

By: Good Brain

Good Brain — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:28:22 -0800

Strange. No problem with soda or other carbonated beverages?

Does it happen to both shoulders/elbows, or just the drinking (or not drinking) arm?

By: The corpse in the library

The corpse in the library — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:36:38 -0800

Hey! The same thing often happens to me, but it's my jaw and neck that hurts. No idea why.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:40:50 -0800

None that I've been aware of, though I pretty much only drink water, wine and coffee (and cider doesn't really have much fizz). Will try a tin of soda when I get home.

It's kind of hard to describe as it is quite brief though sharp and sore. Now I would say that my weak spot physically is my joints (pains in my knees are pretty regular, and my left shoulder is actually giving me a few issues at the minute (feels like it's not sitting in it's socket right, but nothing too painful.... though now that I think about it the pain is quite similar!?!).

Both shoulders and elbows get sharp pain though it's mainly my shoulders. Maybe it's worth mentioning that I also would get pains in my finger joints if the weather is too cold. So, yeah, my joints are not great... but the Beer thing is just strange I'd love to work out the reason.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:41:48 -0800

sorry, my last message was in reply to Good Brain, thanks

By: sonofslim

sonofslim — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:01:12 -0800

my first thought would be temperature, not alcohol -- but that's based on the frosty cold temperature at which i am accustomed to drinking canned/bottled beer in the U.S. it may not be relevant, if you're drinking pints in belfast, but you could chug a glass of ice water and see if it triggers the same thing.

By: myeviltwin

myeviltwin — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:21:59 -0800

In the context of other joint pain, it sounds like gout, which you might want to get checked out for.

The corpse in the library: how long has that been happening? Has it been getting worse? Are you having any other inexplicable health issues, in particular night sweats, itching, or sudden chills?

By: afx114

afx114 — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:54:46 -0800

I get the same, but in the back of my jaw, just under my ears. I always assumed it was some sort of gland reacting to the flavor/acids or some such thing. ???

By: scratch

scratch — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 11:05:59 -0800

I used to get that shoulder pain when I drank wine. I always assumed it was the alcohol acting as a muscle relaxant - tension ebbing abruptly, or something.

By: CoffeeCake

CoffeeCake — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:39:14 -0800

Yeah, check the carbonation angle.

Because it sounds like gas to me.

By: NortonDC

NortonDC — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:56:47 -0800

Gout is associated with beer drinking, but I get the impression that it's a long term correlation, not a sip:ow correlation.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:02:24 -0800

I had thought about gout in the past in a previous fit of hypochondria but there is no swelling or redness. Tried a big cold tin of soda when I got home but no pain at all. Also, I always put ice in the Cider so it would be as cold as a beer.

It's strange because I would have put it to the cold as well, my shoulder hurting at the minute is more than likely because we've had our first frosty week.

At least other people seem to get random pain from alcohol (Well, it's not good but reassuring), thanks for the replies!

By: It's Raining Florence Henderson

It's Raining Florence Henderson — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:44:30 -0800

Put me down as another one with the "back of my jaw, just under my ears" pain. I've had this all my life, mostly with beer, occasionally with Scotch.

By: The corpse in the library

The corpse in the library — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:43:58 -0800

myeviltwin -- nope, no other problems. I don't remember how long it's been going on, but several years.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:49:56 -0800

Put me down as another one with the "back of my jaw, just under my ears" pain. I've had this all my life, mostly with beer, occasionally with Scotch.

Now that could be malt.

By: Irontom

Irontom — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 07:27:05 -0800

My twist on this is that if I drink any alcohol on a very empty stomach, I get sharp, mean pain on the right front side of my shoulder and down my right arm.

Never happens unless I'm starved.

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:56:49 -0800

I have gout, and gout doesn't work like this. Gout will give you extreme joint pain -- I think it's like having glass shards coating your joints. Further, there's a good delay between drinking and pain -- the body has to process the beer before it realizes it can't break down the purine and OMG time to cram it in the bloodstream. Gout is also noticably set off by red meat and peas. If you can eat these in any quantity without misery, there's little chance you have the gout.

Perhaps you have an allergy to sulfates?