If you’ve experienced pain with drinking alcohol, what could it mean? Pain after drinking alcohol has been associated withHodgkin lymphoma. In general, though, there are usually other reasons for the pain.
Drinking too much can cause the familiar hangover and the general feeling of being unwell. It also may cause irritation or pain in the area over the stomach,esophagus, pancreas, gallbladder, and liver. There is a long list of disorders and diseases linked to excessive alcohol use.
This article discusses these conditions, some of which may be quite serious. It will help you to be familiar with symptoms of these illnesses and the causes of pain linked to drinking alcohol.
Verywell / Elise Degarmo
What Are the Causes of Pain After Drinking Alcohol?
When someone has unusual pain in response to alcohol, there are several possible causes. The list of conditions includesHodgkin lymphoma, but also something calledcarcinoid syndrome.Plain old genetics may be at work too.
Alcohol Intolerance and Allergy
Alcohol intolerance and allergyaccount for most of the unusual responses that happen after drinking alcoholic beverages.
True alcohol allergy is believed to be rare. It usually runs in families. Like other food allergies, it may carry the risk of a severe allergic reaction calledanaphylaxis. Sometimes the allergy is really because of an ingredient in the beverage, such as grains or preservatives, and not the alcohol itself.
Other causes of allergies and intolerances to alcohol may include:
Carcinoid Syndrome
Carcinoid syndrome also is quite rare. It involves a type of slow-growing tumor called a carcinoid tumor, which releases serotonin. This is a chemical messenger that can, in turn, produce the symptoms of this syndrome. They include:
What Can Cause Flushed Skin?
Medications
Some alcohol intolerance cases are linked to the use of certain medications. They include disulfiram and Flagyl (metronidazole).
Why Does Alcohol Cause Lymphoma Pain?
About half of people with lymphoma will have enlarged lymph nodes. These nodes are not usually painful to the touch, although they can ache.
In some people, the affected lymph nodes can become painful after drinking alcohol. This seems to happen more often in people withHodgkin lymphoma.
It isnotone of the key symptoms in the diagnosis of lymphoma. In fact, it is quite rare.
There is a long history of this association between alcohol and pain in Hodgkin disease. A 1966 review described 747 patients with alcohol-induced pain linked to cancer-related illness. Hodgkin lymphoma accounted for 40% of cases.Two other reviews in 1994 and 2013 discuss the association but there are few other studies on the books.
Lymphoma Symptoms: What to Look Out For
Does Drinking Alcohol Cause Pain in All Types of Lymphoma?
There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, alcohol-induced pain has only been linked to Hodgkin lymphoma (or Hodgkin disease).
Mechanism of Alcohol-Related Pain
Scientists don’t know the reason for alcohol-related pain in Hodgkin disease, but one theory is blood vessel dilation.
Example Case
One 2019 article published inBMJ Case Reportdescribes the case of a 32-year man with a two-month history of progressively worsening lower back pain. During that period he also recalled noticing a mass near the collar bone region. One week before presentation, he reported worsening back pain immediately after drinking 235–355 mL of alcohol.
There were other symptoms besides the back pain. He had reported frequent fevers, chills, night sweats and unintentional weight loss over the prior six months.
CT imaging revealed a mediastinal mass extending through the chest wall. MRI revealed tumorous bone lesions in the lower spine. Biopsy of the mediastinal mass led to the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma.
Can You Treat Alcohol-Induced Lymphoma Pain?
Limited research suggests that alcohol-induced pain in those with Hodgkin lymphoma may be treated with an over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen.However, limiting or abstaining from alcohol use may be the easiest way to manage this condition.
What is Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy? Causes and Treatment
What Are the Symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma?
People with Hodgkin lymphoma may develop a variety of symptoms. The most common scenario at diagnosis is an enlarged lymph node(s) and nothing else.
Lymph nodes may be enlarged in the neck, armpits, or groin, causing a painless lump. They also may be in the chest and found on imaging studies. However, these lymph nodes often grow slowly, and you can have Hodgkin lymphoma for months or even years before the nodes are detected.
Other Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms occur less often and are calledB symptoms of lymphoma. They may include:
Summary
Some people experience pain after drinking alcoholic beverages. However, it is rare for this to happen. When it does, the pain may be a sign of an ongoing health condition.
Pain along with drinking alcohol has been linked to Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that is highly curable. Most people live full lives if Hodgkin lymphoma is detected and treated early.The symptoms also may be related to carcinoid syndrome, or to a genetic mutation more often found in people of Asian ethnicity. If you experience pain or have unusual symptoms after drinking alcohol, make an appointment to talk to your healthcare provider.
The Impact of Alcohol on Your Body
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hannah-Shmouni F, Stratakis CA, Koch CA.Flushing in (neuro)endocrinology.Rev Endocr Metab Disord.2016;17(3):373-380. doi:10.1007/s11154-016-9394-8National Institutes of Health. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Acute alcohol sensitivity.Brewin TB.Alcohol Intolerance in Neoplastic Disease.Br Med J. 1966;2(5511):437-41. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.5511.437Bryant AJ, Newman JH.Alcohol intolerance associated with Hodgkin lymphoma.CMAJ. 2013;185(8):E353. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120974Callahan B, Coe R, Place H.Hodgkin disease of the spine presenting as alcohol-related pain. A case report and review of the literature.Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 1994;76(1):119-21. doi:10.2106/00004623-199401000-00016Ma L, Varma S, Niranjan-Azadi A.Hodgkin lymphoma presenting as alcohol-induced back pain.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(11):e228440. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228440Bryant AJ, Newman JH.Alcohol intolerance associated with Hodgkin lymphoma.CMAJ. 2013;185(8):E353. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120974Ma L, Varma S, Niranjan-Azadi A.Hodgkin lymphoma presenting as alcohol-induced back pain.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(11):e228440. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228440Cancer Research UK.Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms.NIH: National Cancer Institute.Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hannah-Shmouni F, Stratakis CA, Koch CA.Flushing in (neuro)endocrinology.Rev Endocr Metab Disord.2016;17(3):373-380. doi:10.1007/s11154-016-9394-8National Institutes of Health. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Acute alcohol sensitivity.Brewin TB.Alcohol Intolerance in Neoplastic Disease.Br Med J. 1966;2(5511):437-41. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.5511.437Bryant AJ, Newman JH.Alcohol intolerance associated with Hodgkin lymphoma.CMAJ. 2013;185(8):E353. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120974Callahan B, Coe R, Place H.Hodgkin disease of the spine presenting as alcohol-related pain. A case report and review of the literature.Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 1994;76(1):119-21. doi:10.2106/00004623-199401000-00016Ma L, Varma S, Niranjan-Azadi A.Hodgkin lymphoma presenting as alcohol-induced back pain.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(11):e228440. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228440Bryant AJ, Newman JH.Alcohol intolerance associated with Hodgkin lymphoma.CMAJ. 2013;185(8):E353. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120974Ma L, Varma S, Niranjan-Azadi A.Hodgkin lymphoma presenting as alcohol-induced back pain.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(11):e228440. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228440Cancer Research UK.Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms.NIH: National Cancer Institute.Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hannah-Shmouni F, Stratakis CA, Koch CA.Flushing in (neuro)endocrinology.Rev Endocr Metab Disord.2016;17(3):373-380. doi:10.1007/s11154-016-9394-8National Institutes of Health. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Acute alcohol sensitivity.Brewin TB.Alcohol Intolerance in Neoplastic Disease.Br Med J. 1966;2(5511):437-41. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.5511.437Bryant AJ, Newman JH.Alcohol intolerance associated with Hodgkin lymphoma.CMAJ. 2013;185(8):E353. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120974Callahan B, Coe R, Place H.Hodgkin disease of the spine presenting as alcohol-related pain. A case report and review of the literature.Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 1994;76(1):119-21. doi:10.2106/00004623-199401000-00016Ma L, Varma S, Niranjan-Azadi A.Hodgkin lymphoma presenting as alcohol-induced back pain.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(11):e228440. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228440Bryant AJ, Newman JH.Alcohol intolerance associated with Hodgkin lymphoma.CMAJ. 2013;185(8):E353. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120974Ma L, Varma S, Niranjan-Azadi A.Hodgkin lymphoma presenting as alcohol-induced back pain.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(11):e228440. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228440Cancer Research UK.Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms.NIH: National Cancer Institute.Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version.
Hannah-Shmouni F, Stratakis CA, Koch CA.Flushing in (neuro)endocrinology.Rev Endocr Metab Disord.2016;17(3):373-380. doi:10.1007/s11154-016-9394-8
National Institutes of Health. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Acute alcohol sensitivity.
Brewin TB.Alcohol Intolerance in Neoplastic Disease.Br Med J. 1966;2(5511):437-41. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.5511.437
Bryant AJ, Newman JH.Alcohol intolerance associated with Hodgkin lymphoma.CMAJ. 2013;185(8):E353. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120974
Callahan B, Coe R, Place H.Hodgkin disease of the spine presenting as alcohol-related pain. A case report and review of the literature.Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 1994;76(1):119-21. doi:10.2106/00004623-199401000-00016
Ma L, Varma S, Niranjan-Azadi A.Hodgkin lymphoma presenting as alcohol-induced back pain.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(11):e228440. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228440
Cancer Research UK.Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms.
NIH: National Cancer Institute.Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version.
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