Shoulder cramps after drinks some types of alcohol

I have this- like everyone else thought I was the only one!

I just found what I think mine is and this sounds weird- Heart Burn!

Hope this solves others problems...

Yeah, add me to the list as well. I goggled the topic because it has been an on-going problem for about 5 years now. I'm glad to know I'm not the only person that suffers from this. 

I have had this for over 20 years. I have gone over 5 years with no reactions and have had years that it would be an issue each time i had a drink. I do not have this issue with beer. My pain feels like fire running through the blood in my shoulders. I feel my face get hot like i am having a allergy reaction. It starts within 2 to 5 minutes and can be extremely painful. It normally subsides after 10 to 20 minutes. Normaly i can continue drink after the first round of this with no issues. I see that some people are thinking that this could be a sign of Hodgkin's Disease. I have had the issue for over 20 years off and on, so i think i can count that out. If it is not some type of allergy then what is it. What would cause this off and on with no pattern? One night i can drink with no issue and the next night i drink the same thing and have to deal with the pain. I normal have to walk away from the table and go out side to move my arms around to deal with the pain. 

I have this too!!!  No one else I have never met  has described experiencing these symptoms, but here are some things I have noted for myself...  I can drink some wines, plenty of liquors and plenty of beers without getting that weird inexplicable ache.  It's when I drink the flavoured beverages that I get into trouble...  Recently, I drank some bud light "Lime-a-rita" without getting that pain--on more than one occasion, in fact.  I admittedly don't know anything about what could be causing this, BUT, after looking at the can labels, I discovered that the lime-a-rita drinks used natural flavours and caramel colouring, as opposed to artificial flavours and dyes...  so I'm really wondering if that could have something to do with it.  I would be really interested to hear if anyone else has noted differences based on what, exactly they're drinking.

I only get the attacks when i drink vodka, sprite, and a lime. (i do not drink any other liquors) I have been drinking that combination for 20 years. these attacks have been sporadic throughout my life. I just had an attack on 8-11-12. It has been about four years since my last attack. In 2004 i went a year with these attacks. a post reported that hart burn may have been his cause. I treat hart burn off and on. I do not think my attacks are related to hart burn. Over the last five years, i have just been drinking beer. I will have a Vodka drink every two months are so.
Hope this helps! I wish i could better describe the pain. It's not a cramp or sharp pain. I would not call it an ache. It is a persistent pain. I have played many sports and none of those pains match up. The only description i can come up with is a burning throughout my shoulder. I do not think that is the best description. If you have the same pain, you know it is unlike anything you have experienced and it is almost unbearable. Thank god it only lasts 10 to 20 minutes.

This happens to me too. I really only drink beer but I get this pain only in my left shoulder, sometimes it lasts 5 minutes and other times it's 20 minutes. But I'm glad I'm not alone in this weirdness.

Hey! thank you so much for this. I am 28 and when I was 19, I would start feeling this pain. it's like a aching pain within the actual shoulder and upper right arm. And like you, I have seen that it only happens with a certain drinks. If I were to have a shot, or 10 shots, I will be fine, but if I mix vodka with coke or anything sugary then I feel it come on until the pain reaches its maximum within 10-15 minutes and lasts for 15 minutes.



Have you found out why it happens to us? Why I get this pain and if there is anything I can do to get it fixed?

It happens to me as well...I think it's some of the artificial flavors and additives that are in alcohol or when mixed w/ alcohol. I try to always by natural flavored drinks and

I have dealt with this problem since I was a young child - obviouslly it was not alcohol induced when I was six and seven years old. In addition, I've had a number of other undiagnosed GI issues. My pediatrician attributed this issue to Reflux and said it was hartburn but none of the PPI medications ever worked. I've had a rediculous number of tests and to date this issue still remains unsolved. However, as I have gotten older, the instance of it has greatly reduced. I've only had one or two bouts of it within the past year - and it's always when I've been drinking shots and dancing. Wine, beer or even shots when I'm not being very active seem to cause no problem for me.

Within the past year I've been lucky enough to become friends with a GI doctor who has helped connect me to GI specialists at a research university. I was recently diagnosed with Lymphacytic Colitus and am expecting a diagnosis of ruminating syndrom for an additional issue within the next week. For me, the symptoms of ruminating syndrom and this "thing" do seem to present together so I will be inquiring about that during my next doctors visit. I've chased these problems looking for a diagnosis for almost 20 years and finally feel like I'm talking with a doctor who knows what he's doing and doesn't think I'm crazy.

When I have these attacks I feel like I can't breath and the pain is very severe. If I act when I feel it coming on, then I usually stop dancing and drink a bottle of water. It tends to stem off the pain from worsening. If I don't, then the pain lasts for about 20 minutes. I find that chugging water to make myself vomit tends to releave the pressure and pain faster (I know... disgusting, but it works).

If I get anywhere on the diagnosis of this issues I'll post and let you all know. 

I have this too! It seems to be for me after I drink high alchol content, or badly mixed drinks, without enough mix. beer doesn't seem to be a problem, and it's just my shoulders to middle of upper chest where there's pain, but it's enough to make me stop, and drink three glasses of water.

yess same problem as the rest i thought it was just alcohol but reslentley it has happend with coffee and moutin dew the only common factor i can find is when i drink them in small sips kinda fast like less then 12 oz in 5 min yes only last 10 -15 min and then im fine to drink more and go on but 8 pages of reading and still no answer well i guess ill keep looking 

Another 'me too' post.  I have pains in my shoulders (about 5 out of 10 on the pain scale - very uncomfortable but not excruciating - enough to make me need to leave a situation as I'd be unable to stand talking to someone) when I drink certain things.  For me the key point seems to be around 3-5 drinks in.  The common factor is definitely alcohol and definitely sugary alcoholic drinks (alcopops such as VK or WKD cause this but certain cocktails do as well).  The pain feels like it's inside my shoulder blades, like someone has put their hands on my shoulders and are digging their thumbs into the pressure point under the shoulder.  It is often accompanied by general discomfort in the chest and stomach area.  Another factor seems to be physical exercise; dancing or bowling are two common factors but I've also had an 'attack' whilst eating a meal.  The exact factors are unknown but I need to step outside, sit on a cold step and massage my shoulders for 15 minutes to clear it.  After it's gone I feel great but often stop drinking as the pain is quite lethargic.

I personally suspect it's some kind of allergic reaction caused by the body digesting a certain type of sugar.  I doubt there's any cure other than avoiding certain types of sugary alcoholic drinks.

DO NOT DRINK FLAVORED LIQUOR OR FLAVORED MALT BEVERAGES. I AM, AT THIS CURRENT MOMENT, EXPERIENCING THIS DRUNKEN PAIN IN MY RIGHT SHOULDER AND CHEST. YES IM DRUNK LOL. BUT THESE PAINS ARE A serious buzz kill. thought i would google it. im gonna ask my doctor to be sure. because the pain is EXCRUCIATING!!!!

I am so glad I found this! I have had this problem for a couple years, since the first time I drank. The first drink I ever had was at 21 BELIEVE IT OR NOT! I was drinking Pinnacle whipped vodka- it was my first drink and the first thing I felt half way through the drink was that my right arm felt heavy. It was heavy enough to not want to hold my drink. There was a little bit of dull aching too. After I was done with the whole drink, I felt pain in my chest and arms. I stopped drinking but ignored the fact that it might have been the alcohol. The second time, another day but with the same drink, I had a couple drinks and my chest was tight and my arm felt cramping.. I was on the floor rolling around in pain. I felt like my chest and right arm/ shoulder was being squeezed. I told my friends and they thought it was all in my head! They said that I was just nervous to have my first few drinks which wasn't the case at all. Then I tried other drinks without vodka and it was fine. But whenever people would hand me drinks to try and I felt the pain, I would ask if there was vodka in it. Sure enough there always was. So for the last couple years I stayed away from vodka and have not had the pain ever again. Until tonight- I had the bud light margaritas which once again made me feel like my chest was being squeezed along with my right arm. It only took one can of it. This usually lasts about 20 minutes and I feel like I need to lay down and have cool air blowing on me.  I am glad to see that this isn't only me! I thought I was crazy. I even googled it a couple years ago but never came across anything. I am especially relieved that other people say margaritas do the same thing to them. Thanks!

ive been told you need to limit your alcohol and increase your sodium intake. it happened to a friend of mine Drew, and so he would eat at least 2 big packs of salt & vinegar chips before we'd go out and he never complained about getting them again.