Beer as pain killer

[longshadow11]

I had surgery on my shoulder a year ago. Either the surgery didn't work or I tore my biceps and shoulder ligaments again, but it hurts like I'm hanging from a meat hook.
Obviously, I am well beyond pain meds for this, but sometimes it hurts too much to sleep, so I self-medicate with a couple or three beers at night. I have been wondering if this is a bad idea. I've actually lost weight doing it. I don't eat much at night so the beer won't get soaked up by food. I realize I can't do this forever, but until I save enough money for another surgery, I don't know what to do.

As a result, I have sampled quite a few beers, and it's fun. However, my wife is concerned with this new hobby of mine. I don't get drunk and it's 100% for pain relief and relaxation, but I sort of see her point. Is drinking beer for pain relief a bad thing? Have any of you ever done it?

[24]

Re: Beer as pain killer

Yeah that isn't a smart Idea and I would stop that. You don't want to become an alcoholic. As someone who has had his fair share of shoulder troubles in the past my suggestion to you is a couple of Advil and some Ice. My shoulder was pretty mangled in the past and That took at least some of the pain away.

My suggestion to you right now is to go to a doctor and at least get an MRI done of your shoulder. Surgery is out of the question now because you don't have enough money but at least find the cause of your pain so you know what It definitely is.

[dingleberryfinn]

Re: Beer as pain killer

Bad idea, eventually you'll need more than a couple or 3 beers.

But I did do this for a couple of nights a few years back when I had a bad toothache & it was going to be a couple of days until my dentist appointment.
Definitely not a fix for anything more than a couple of days. IMO

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: Beer as pain killer

I'm no doctor or anything, but there's probably a pretty good reason why this "treatment" isn't ever suggested.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Beer as pain killer

3 beers turns into 5, into a couple glasses of liquor, into a bottle. Not to mention the affect of alcohol and pain meds on the liver.

I'm sure you can think of better ways to manage the pain.

[mgoblue]

Re: Beer as pain killer

3 beers turns into 5, into a couple glasses of liquor, into a bottle. Not to mention the affect of alcohol and pain meds on the liver.

I'm sure you can think of better ways to manage the pain.

This. Sucks for you, but you don't want to go down this road...

[longshadow11]

Re: Beer as pain killer

I have always made myself stop at 3. True, I don't get as much numbness as I used to, so I will have to find another way to sleep. Looks like it's time to put some money away for a second surgery. Yesterday I went to hug my wife when a spike of pain shot through my shoulder. The kind of pain that is temporarily blinding. I don't think sipping a few beers at night is gonna help that.

It was good while it lasted; I enjoyed a few nights of solid sleep.