Skin Pain After Drinking Alcohol

[TroubleProblems]

First a little about myself:
I am a 28 year old female in relatively good shape and health.  I drink maybe once a week and excessively once a month.  I don’t take any medications (even Advil) regularly and I am not of Asian descent.  About a year ago after heavy drinking I started to notice that my body hurt.  Not the usually kind of hurt that would be associated with drinking, like falling or overexerting one’s body.  This is more like my skin hurts, it does not feel like my muscles, bones, or joints, it literally hurts to be touched.  The pain is primarily above my torso.  I usually notice it on my neck first, then my shoulders, chest, etc.  The pain usually starts the next evening and then last for a couple of days.  I have been a social drinker for years now and like I said this developed only about a year ago.  I have tried to research this online and while I know I am not alone with these symptoms, I cannot find a diagnosis that fits my symptoms.   I realize allergies can change, but this seems unlikely to me.  Alcoholic Myopathy seems unlikely because of it’s slow onset, it doesn’t feel like it’s targeting the muscles, and my legs are fine.  Also because of its onset and family history I am excluding Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  Please let me know if you think I am prematurely ruling any of these diagnoses or if there is another option I am unaware of.   I don’t mind going to the doctor, but with something like this I believe I will just be told to stop drinking, and I am looking for an actual reason.  Also, I apologize because I had no idea which forum this fits into. I would love to hear any thoughts.  Thank you!

[Elaineadler]

I am a 44 year old female and have been suffering these same symptoms for 5-6 years. It always appears about 12-24 hours after hard drinking. I work out hard 6 days a week and eat very clean. I only drink heavily about 2-3 times a year and I only have the symptoms after drinking alcohol. I’m just so happy that I’m not alone. Following in case someone gets some answers.

[lmh14]

Hi, I am a 28 year old female and have exactly the same as this. When I asked my boyfriend if he ever experienced this he looked at me as if I was mad. I have it right now, and am so tender that even when  I ran down the stairs earlier, where some of me wobbles it was so painful and tender. It literally feels like I am bruised all over and that it is a surface thing. It has happened two to three times now after a heavy night of drinking, and yes sets in about 24 hours after. I am so relieved that I am not the only one...especially as my little health anxiety brain is trying to convince me that its more sinister! Afraid I don't know what it is either, but fibromyalgia makes sense to me, as I have suffered from auto immune diseases in the past due to toxins.

[scaredtodrink]

Hello, another 36yo female sufferer here, started in my mid 20s. For me, it always comes on 24hrs after my first drink and lasts for another 24hrs.

So tender and painful that it puts me off drinking…! Noticed it’s only around my lymph nodes - neck, chest, back of arms..

Following incase someone has an answer. NZ-based.

[Brionywatts]

I am a 26 year old female and I experience exactly the same and have done for the last 5 years at least, maybe longer but I can’t remember!
I can’t believe so many of us suffer from the same thing yet we have absolutely no idea why it’s happening. I have spoken to my dr about it once but he looked at me like I was mad so I never brought it up again!
Interesting that the majority of us are female too.
Will definitely be following this forum to see if anyone ever gets an answer.

[Ashleyhim]

I’m also having these issues and have for a couple years. This thread is all I can find on the internet about it. Has anyone found an answer?! I would love to know why this is happening.

[mansardjoule]

I'm a 29 year old male, and over the last couple years, I've noticed the same symptoms. I had no idea what it was, but I suppose fibromyalgia is a possibility since my mom has suffered from it for over a decade. Fibromyalgia would also help to explain why there aren't more men in this thread, since fewer men suffer from it.