Alcohol Discussion

Alcohol: Daytime alcohol consumption immediately prior to a scheduled medical examination has several possible implications. This behavior is often associated with a high degree of stress perceived by the patient. Stress is a distracting influence which lowers pain tolerance and may interfere with the patient's ability to cooperate fully with medical recommendations. Daytime alcohol use may also indicate ongoing problems with alcoholism. Such problems may impair pain tolerance or ability to cooperate with therapy. They increase diagnostic uncertainty, especially when the primary complaints are subjective. Lack of full cooperation may greatly affect the final result, particularly when treatment involves either regular exercise or a strict immobilization protocol. For these and other reasons, this presentation makes outcome less predictable and increases the risk of surgical complications as well as delayed, incomplete or only temporary recovery following treatment.

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