Joint pain is not something you commonly think of as a symptom of food allergies. But according to the Center for Food Allergies, joint pain caused by inflammation in tissue throughout the body is a common symptom for those who suffer from arthritis and other joint disorders. If you experience severe joint pain or inflammation after eating certain foods, keep a dietary diary and talk with your doctor to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment. Food allergies are typically diagnosed by participating in allergy testing.
About Food Allergies
Food allergies are most common in young children, but they can affect anyone at any age. The most common food allergies include soy, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, fish and peanuts, according to MedlinePlus. If you have a food allergy, the immune system incorrectly identifies the proteins in the food as harmful. Although the proteins are safe, the immune system reacts with defense. It creates IgE antibodies that work to fight off the wrongly identified food proteins. This action causes increased levels of histamine in soft tissues throughout the body.
Join Pain Cause
When the immune system overreacts to certain foods, the increased histamine in joint tissue causes inflammation and irritation. The inflammation of the joint tissue causes swelling, which places excess pressure and stress on the joints, leading to pain. Trusted MD clarifies that only people with arthritis will experience joint pain from a food allergy. It is uncommon that a person with no previous history of arthritis would experience joint pain from a food allergy.
Other Symptoms
If you experience joint pain from a food allergy after eating, you will experience other common food allergy symptoms alongside the joint pain. MayoClinic.com states that other common symptoms of a food allergy include shortness of breathe, diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, nausea, nasal congestion, sneezing, skin rashes, hives and wheezing. Food allergies can lead to anaphylactic shock, a rare but potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Anaphylactic shock will require emergency medical treatment.
Diagnosis and Prevention
Treatment begins with a proper diagnosis. An allergist is the most qualified medical professional that can diagnose which foods are causing an allergic reaction. Once identified, the MayoClinic.com recommends avoiding those foods in your diet. Trusted MD states that the most common food-related allergies that cause joint inflammation and pain are eggplant, peppers, tomatoes and peppers.
Treatment
The most common treatment for joint pain is the use of over-the-counter pain relievers. These medications are effective at reducing the amount of pain, but should be used in moderation, according to the Center for Food Allergies. Other mild symptoms of a food allergy can be treated with antihistamines that reduce the amount of histamine in the body. If you develop a skin rash, treat it with hydrocortisone or prescribed corticosteroids.
