Although uncommon, an allergy to dairy casein can cause leg pain, according to the Center for Food Allergies. The release of certain chemicals in the body can cause inflammation in the joints, causing pain, especially if you've diagnosed with arthritis or another inflammatory joint condition. If leg pain develops every time you consume dairy casein, talk to your doctor for proper testing and diagnosing. An allergy to dairy casein can result in a severe allergic reaction.
About Dairy Casein
Casein describes protein primarily found in cow's milk. Cow's milk is made of casein proteins and whey proteins, according to Kids Health. These proteins are the reason people experience an allergic reaction that can cause leg pain. Most dairy casein allergies are experienced by young children, but you can experience a milk allergy at any age. Most symptoms develop within the hour after ingesting the casein proteins, but can occur almost immediately.
Allergic Reaction
An allergic reaction to casein proteins is a hypersensitivity of the immune system, where it identifies the proteins as dangerous substances. The immune system quickly reacts by creating antibodies. The creation of antibodies triggers mast cells to produce histamine, according to Kids Health. Histamine helps prevent infections in the body, but can also cause irritation and inflammation in soft tissue.
Leg Pain
The Center for Food Allergies states that anything that triggers an immune system reaction triggers inflammation, which can lead to joint pain in the legs. For example, if you consume casein protein and you're allergic to it, the mast cells in leg joints create histamine that causes swelling and inflammation. The swelling places pressure on the joints and the surrounding areas of the joints, resulting in pain. You may experience leg pain immediately or as long as up to a day after eating casein.
Other Symptoms
If you're allergic to dairy casein, you will experience other common food-related allergy symptoms. These may include asthma, digestive difficulty, skin rashes and nasal congestion. Asthma symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness and coughing. Your intestines may become inflamed, causing diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and cramping. Skin rashes that typically form are eczema, hives and general itching, according to Kids Health.
Treatment
If you accidentally ingest dairy casein, call your doctor. MayoClinic.com states that over-the-counter antihistamines are effective at treating minor allergy symptoms. Pain relievers can be taken to help alleviate the leg pain, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, according to the Center for Food Allergies, but can have adverse reactions.
