Alcohol has a powerful effect on your entire body, impacting even nerve tissue. Have you ever asked, “Why does my arm hurt after drinking?” We can help at BlueCrest Recovery. We provide alcohol abuse treatment to aid you in getting back to a sober life. Contact our team online or call 888.292.9652 today to learn more about arm pain after drinking and how our programs can help.
Why Does Your Arm Hurt After Drinking?
Drinking alcohol in large quantities can cause damage to nerve tissue, leading to feeling pain or tingling sensations in your extremities. This condition is called alcoholic neuropathy, and it can lead to arm pain after drinking. Your peripheral nerves transmit signals between the spinal cord, the brain, and the rest of the body. To do this correctly, the nerves need adequate levels of certain nutrients, including:
- Thiamine
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Folate
- Niacin
- Vitamin E
Drinking too much alcohol affects the levels of these nutrients, causing and worsening symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy, which has the potential to affect both movement and sensation and can range from mild to severe.
What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Neuropathy?
Although it’s not life-threatening, alcohol neuropathy impacts your quality of life. Symptoms of this condition include:
- Prickly sensations
- Tingling and burning
- Numbness
- Loss of muscle functioning
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle atrophy
- Muscle spasms
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Incontinence
- Sexual dysfunction
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
Fortunately, you can improve the condition by not drinking. It’s essential, however, not to abruptly stop drinking without the supervision of professionals.
What to Understand About Alcohol Use Disorders
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that 29.5 million people aged 12 and older in the United States have an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol abuse is a chronic and relapsing condition characterized by compulsive alcohol consumption and the inability to stop drinking despite adverse consequences.
Anyone can develop an alcohol use disorder, but some factors increase your risks. If you have close relatives who suffer from substance use disorders, if you have co-occurring mental health conditions, or if you’ve experienced trauma, you are more likely to struggle with substance abuse.
Chronic alcohol consumption leads to structural changes in the brain that make stopping more difficult. Alcohol affects your reward system, causing a significant release of dopamine that lets your brain know this is a pleasurable experience. It will want to repeat that experience, and your brain can encourage this by causing cravings.
Along with these changes, alcohol also affects your prefrontal cortex. This brain area deals with self-control, emotional regulation, decision-making, and more. When you drink, this impact on your prefrontal cortex can make you feel more confident, and you may find yourself losing some of your inhibitions.
All of these effects on the brain create the perfect storm that leads to the development of a substance use disorder.
Getting Help for Alcohol Abuse
If you’ve been struggling with a substance use disorder, the best thing you can do is reach out to begin treatment. Alcohol use can quickly spiral out of control, impacting your physical and mental health.
Our center offers outpatient programs to help you return to sobriety. From partial hospitalization programs, our highest levels of care, to standard outpatient treatment, you can find the right option for your needs.
Our programs offer individual and group therapy sessions, family services, and aftercare options. We also encourage our clients to participate in 12-step programs.
Enroll in Alcohol Abuse Treatment at BlueCrest Recovery
We know how difficult it is to ask for help if you’re struggling with a substance use disorder. Our team is here to help you take this first crucial step. Contact BlueCrest Recovery online or call 888.292.9652 to begin.
