Have you got pain in your joints since you stopped drinking alcohol? What should you do? How long will it last?
The question today was ‘I’ve got pain in my joints since I stopped drinking. What should I do about it? What can I do about it?’
It might be more coincidental if I’m honest with you.
It’s more than likely.
There’s not really much evidence that quitting alcohol is going to cause you pain in your joints.
There’s normally something that’s been there and suppressed by all the drinking.
You’re drunk and you don’t feel it.
I don’t know.
The best thing to do would be to go down to your doctor.
What I can help you with is to examine what you’re doing now that you’ve stopped drinking because that’s probably where the fault lies if it’s not an underlying condition.
That’s probably nothing to do with the alcohol.
It might be something that you’re eating now, something that you’re drinking now, something that you’ve replaced the alcohol with that’s causing you problems.
It could be gout which is pain in the joints that’s often caused by purine, and that could be found in alcohol and protein-rich foods like meat.
But, when you’re talking about alcohol drinking and gout, it’s mostly caused through drinking alcohol.
So, if you’ve got gout, one of the first things your doctor is going to ask you is ‘do you drink?’ and to stop drinking because that’s going to exacerbate the problem.
It’s going to add to the levels of purine in your body.
The only thing to do is to look at your diet and see which protein-rich foods you’re eating.
It could be arthritis as well- gout is a form of arthritis.
Alcohol doesn’t really cause arthritis but it can interfere with medications that you’re taking for arthritis.
I don’t know whether these symptoms are coming up because you’ve quit drinking or what.
People who drink heavily usually don’t eat very often either, so there are a lot of vitamin deficiencies.
So you’ve got vitamin deficiencies of B1, B6…I suppose all nutrients will start to suffer in your body because you’re not eating the proper, nutritious diet.
I mean, I certainly didn’t.
I can go back and talk about my diet until the cows come home because it was basically when I didn’t drink that I ate good.
When I was cooking for my son, I tried to cook him different foods, foods that were nutritional most of the time.
Obviously, when I had a hangover, I couldn’t do that.
But for the most part, I ate a shit diet.
It wasn’t great at all.
The best thing to do is go and visit your doctor. Person to person, they can check you out and see what the problem is.
At least they can narrow it down better than I can.
I’m not a doctor.
But at least I know that I used to get pain in my joints a lot more than I do now, and that was partly due to the alcohol consumption and partly due to the crappy food that I ate.
More crappy food leads to more crappiness, basically.
Sorry if I’m not a great help with this one.
With these medical problems, they’re more often than not due to the amount of alcohol that you consumed in the past.
That’s one area where a doctor can help.
You can find relief from your doctor that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
I can give you all the inspirational help for quitting drinking, but as far as actions, I can’t do anything.
If you have any questions, suggestions for this guy, then leave them down below.
If you’ve experienced pain in your joints as a result of drinking or not drinking, then leave our experiences down below.
I’d love to hear them and I’m sure anyone who is suffering from this would love to hear them as well.
Come on over to the website if you want the audio of this.
Sign up for the newsletter and there’s a free course on how to relax and destress without alcohol.
PAIN IS TEMPORARY, QUITTING IS FOREVER.
Until next time…
Onwards and Upwards!
I wonder if the guy who is suffering knee pain has put on a lot of weight since quitting. Obviously, if your knee joints are a bit rickety in the first place, and then you pile on the weight, you’re in for knee pain. Well….just a thought.
Enjoying your daily audios Kevin ….as I walk the coastal path…..Holywood to Bangor in Northern Ireland.
Day 8 for me today I think my pain is a underlying condition I look at my family sister brother mum dad aunt all have joint pain’s and two of them really don’t drink at all maybe Christmas a wedding kinda thing only yet they have pain for myself I’m also a heavy smoker I’m 56 years old and to be honest I’ve used alcohol all my life so I guess the pain is because of many factors I would take Kevin’s advice and go see. Your GP about it. By the way good luck at staying of the hooch Tony B
I found this video interesting because I have just stopped drinking wine for 1 week and already I no longer have aching and painful joints. This is quite the opposite of the person you are speaking about in this video.
In only 1 week I have observed many benefits of quitting this useless habit of pouring a bottle of wine down my throat almost nightly. Its just a stupid habit without any value but it just had become a routine which lasted some 20+ years. Its crazy how we become creatures of habit and continue doing things which have no benefit to us but harm us in the end.
Thanks for your video’s I look forward to them!
Liz
I had the same, my joints stopped aching when I stopped
Kevin,
I have 2 questions
1 Did you use AA or stop cold turkey on your own. What are your thoughts about AA
2 What are your thoughts about drinking non-alcoholic beer in the beginning just to get through the first 30 days?
Hi Jason, thanks for the comments and questions. I never used AA, just stopped on my own. I don’t really have much of an opinion about AA. I don’t think it’s very successful for the individual unless you keep going. I think many people leave their addictions for alcohol behind only to replace them with addictions to AA. This is shown time and time again with people who are still going to the AA after many years.
My thoughts on drinking non-alcoholic beer in the beginning, just to get through the first 30 days… I’m in two minds. First, if it helps you to get through those 30 days, so be it. Second, replacements can be a bad idea. It depends on the person. For some people, replacements only keep the old habit alive. The whole idea is to kill the alcohol habit and replace it with something less harmful and more valuable to you as a person.
I too have pain in my joints since giving up drinking. I think it’s because I have more energy and have become more active. I’m busy doing something all the time, not lazing around with a drink in my hand
I’m working muscles that I have hardly broken a sweat in years. I think that’s what’s causing MY joint pain. What a wonderful problem to have if that is indeed the cause ?. ?
Better to be addicted to AA than alcohol .
I get more than joint pain every time I quit drinking I get huge gout attacks. I stop drinking for a month 2-3 times a year and it happens everytime. So glad I’m not alone. My diet changes but for the better so I doubt it would be it. I thinks lots of beer flush the acid out. Many more trips to the washroom anyway..Food for thought?
I stopped drinking 2 weeks ago and I have intense joint pain. This happens every time I take “breaks” or “resets” from alcohol.
OMG, Thank God I am not the only one that is experiencing this. I thought I was going insane. I gave up drinking 2 week ago, and these last few days I have been having intense joint and ankle pain. I had been diagnosed with gout in the past, and I noticed as I was getting older the attacks became more severe and lasted longer. I finally said I had enough I’m done, and committed to getting healthy again. But here I am searching for answers because of my mind numbing joint pain. Crazy part is I have been eating super healthy and hydrating these last few weeks. I’m drinking more water, eating more leafy greens, even went to so far as to buy powered collagen. Still sever pain. But now I’m seriously thinking about taking a trip to the wine store, to have a drink or two just to make it stop.
Hi There
I have beeen to Rehab after 30 years of excessive drinking and I am now 43 days clean.
I have pain in my hips and the top and centre of my back since I stopped drinking.
As you say maybe the alcohol masked the problem and at was existing.
I will go to the Doctor and get some advise.
Thanks for the video and the good work you do.
Regards
Julian
I have also suffered joint pain since giving up drinking. I am 6 months sober and on waking everyday my body aches.After I begin moving about it does ease but I think I will visit my GP for a blood test to rule out possible arthritis. Thanks for the question initially, I was wondering if I was the only one suffering and thanks for the video answer.
Joy…did you see your GP? I have the same symptoms…about 5 months sober. Just curious.
Me too! Almost 6 mos sober and moderate joint pain. My theory is that while alcohol no doubt was causing damage in some areas, it was also providing stress relief and therefore cooling inflammation down. My sobriety has finally unleashed my inner hothead – a quality I was managing through drinking for years. Now since I don’t have my usual shut down valve, my body is inflamed. Mind body connection is what it’s all about. I’m working on trying to find other ways to get there but I miss my magic bullet. I just know that I can’t go back to where I was and I’m hanging in there. Did yours eventually go away?
Hi I’m 49 and drink most evenings a bottle or 2! Of wine as it’s my lifestyle usually 5 days out of a week
I’ve stopped 4 days ago as also trying to loose weight.. but I’m getting more cramp now than ever leg and feet cramp 4 times woke me last night it’s awful…. I take iron also as I used to get cramp years ago but I’m now eating all protein and no carbs no bread no butter nothing bad just ham pork beef salads beans peppers liver etc
Should I be worried?
I must add I don’t even feel like a drink tbh, I’ve also had an awful headache every day these last 4 days something I never ever get ever! Not even after a good few drinks …. any advice please greatly accepted and well done to everyone on here who has stopped and is trying X
Hi im around 7 mnths sobre nd my body aches with anxiety sumtimes but i guess quitting drinks sumtime will prove a good choice??
Well I came here searching for “quitting alcohol and muscle aches”. I did not have muscles aches when i was drinking alcohol. After quitting for a few months, things have started to worsen instead of getting better. Muscle aches, arthritis, depression, insomnia, digestive system problems. Things are getting worse. I am not sure what to do now.
Alex Kutler, about 2 weeks after I quit cold turkey I had incredible joint pain in my hands and feet. It was debilitating pain, it as I moved about my day it went away. It was agony to stand on my own feet. I bet this went on for a good couple of months. I found no explanations. I began to be sure I ate very healthy foods and took vitamins and turmeric and liver cleansing supplements. It’s gone now. My insomnia is still with me. I just finally accept the fact that I need less sleep now. In fact, I think the fact that I always seemed to have problems getting settled and falling asleep was a huge reason why I drank at night. Looking over your other gripes, I went from what I thought was IBS to normal digestion but that took time too. I do put fiber in my coffee or tea. Almost 2 years out, I do yoga 2-3 x a week in a class and it has really made such a difference with my serenity and sense of well being. I went 30 years without exercise. Hang in there, it’s soooo worth the temporary bad stuff.
I turned yellow in Feb last year (18). I stopped drinking. I have picked up a moderate caffeine habit I didn’t have, and my sweets intake has upped. I’ve put on about 25 pounds since then. I first noticed it in my Achilles early on in quitting. When I would get up I couldn’t just start walking it was tight and had to loosen up. That has mostly subsided. Now if I sit on my knees which I do and did A LOT for making fires or just sitting on the floor I struggle to get up and it takes a minute for everything to loosen up. I’m 34.
dheerajkumardutt02@gmail.com hey please contact me .. if possible please
Fantastic day. I am very pleased to read your article. Details can be found by not a lot of resources. Your site has become my favorite right now. Hopefully find a larger quantity of similar content. I am interested in enhancing my education, so I attempt to search for more such information. Continue your actions to supply the info that they want to individuals.
A year ago I got sober and for months my bones and joints ached. I saw my PC who did a work up for all sorts of things and found nothing. But within my blood work it said I had macros and other minor things wrong with my blood work that pointed to vitamin deficiencies.
Basically, drinking for prolonged periods of time greatly affects your vitamin absorption. The kidneys expel magnesium 200x faster after just 1 drink. Alcoholics typically have magnesium and B vitamin deficiencies which help our heart, blood, calcium and bones. Talk to your doctor and be honest. They may recommend supplements. Eat foods rich in magnesium and B vitamins.
im 5 days in going cold turkey and my right foot ached then my toe then it moved up to the inside of my knees and side of my elbow it is not gout because i know gout very well it dosent pound like gout and it would have been in full bloom by now its something to do with wthdrawals sure i could take an anti infamitory that i have for gout but does not explain it
I have almost precisely the same experience as you describe including experience of gout. Did you get anywhere or does it just go away over time?
All gone since I stopped drinking, I am pleased to say 🙂
I stopped 16 days ago. In my late 50’s and I have arthritis in my knees, had one replaced last year and was very happy with it. Since quitting this time my legs and joints hurt so much sometimes I walk like an old lady till I get going. First time I got sober was when I was in my early 30’s, stayed sober for 20 years and never had aches – just a lot of emotional and psychological stuff. Most of this I worked through with a lot of help. I got sober two years ago in a treatment center in Utah, which was cold and I had no problem with my joints. Only stayed sober a couple months. I must say this pain has made me more determined not to drink again, or even entertain the thought. I’m scared, I don’t want to end up unable to walk. This drinking game is getting serious now.
3 weeks sober and it started about a week and a half ago. All joints knees hips shoulders sometimes elbows wrists really hurt. As far as this severe joint pain was there and masked with alcohol? Absolutely not I wasn’t drinking 12 hours a day when I went to work. I never had joint pain then. Been drinking many many years. 54 years old. I hope it goes away in time…
I was a regular alcoholic. then in this lockdown, I’ve stopped as the bar here is shut down. now I’ve felt so much pain, what should I do about it? I want to stop it for permanent.
Nice information
Quit 7 weeks ago. Glad to find people with similar pain. It started a couple of weeks in. Seems to be getting worse, or somewhat constant. Pain in shoulders lower back, hips, buttox, and really tight hamstrings.
Alcohol damages muscles and prevents vitamins from being absorbed. Look up Alcoholic Myopathy.
In the evening the pain is the worst. In the am after I get going it is better.
Being sober is worth all the pain although I hear muscle damage is reversible. The scary part is if the heart muscle is damaged too much it is not reversible.
Best to all
I am 120 days sober after drinking a couple of bottles of wine every day for almost 35 years. About 2 weeks after quitting my right knee started hurting and it’s so painful. Keeps me awake at night, hard to walk when I first stand up from sitting, stairs are a nightmare too. It wasn’t there before, it’s only started just after I got sober. I hope it goes away, it’s so debilitating.
So glad to hear I’m not alone…after googling I really couldn’t find anything to explain my muscle and joint pain that started a couple days after I stopped drinking…my legs and ankles lock up especially when I first get up or sit for a prolonged time and my arthritis in my wrists and thumbs are so bad now compared to when I was drinking…so weird!!!
It’s been exactly 8 weeks since I stopped drinking and I wonder how long this will last…forever?!?!?
I think it’s what someone said, myopathy. Gout would be felt all the time, and wouldn’t be suppressed by simple anti inflamatories.
I went to the gym the entire time I was drinking, and doing a lot of cardio.
The lack of vitamin absorption makes much more sense
Nice work, keep doing
Great information about this
I am 66 and finally 30 days sober after many years of heavy drinking every nite. I had been experiencing heaviness in my legs and painful knees. I also have a problem with my balance at times. I have an appt. next month with my GP. Buy relieved to hear I am not the only one. experiencing this .
I’ve experienced the same. A couple weeks after quitting started to get sore joints. Thought it was because I was more active although my work load and physical activity really didn’t change. However the pain seemed to get worse moving from my feet and ankles to hips back neck…..even into my fingers everything aches. Especially in the mornings as I get moving it fades but returns at night as I stop moving as much. Don’t know what it is but sure it has to do with drinking. I believe it will go away at some point as my body heals itself.