Drinking Alcohol = Low Back Pain?

Drinking Alcohol = Low Back Pain?

Reference:Ferreira PH, et al. Is alcohol intake associated with low back pain? A systematic review. Man Ther. 2013 Jun;18(3):183-90.

We know that excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for liver cirrhosis, heart attacks and type 2-diabetes. On the other hand we know that moderate alcohol use is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, systemic lupus and diabetes …go figure!

So is drinking alcohol associated with LBP? This 2013 systematic review analyzed 26 studies and showed that there was a very weak association between alcohol consumption and LBP and likely not a causal effect.

They conclude that the relationship between LBP and drinking alcohol is likely important only in those with alcohol dependence/abuse.

For now if you have back pain and enjoy your couple of glasses of wine with your dinner, enjoy it! After all, a lack of enjoyment in life is a greater risk factor for developing persistent back pain.

In a Nutshell: Cheers! Drink and be merry, but not too much and not too often (and don’t mix with meds)

Posted on: September 26, 2013

Categories: Lumbar Spine