It's an odd occurrence if you develop joint pain after eating wheat products, but if you're allergic to wheat, it may be more common than you may first think. Wheat intolerance, or wheat allergy, is a hypersensitivity of the immune system to one or more of the proteins found in wheat. Wheat is found in a wide variety of foods, such as bread, baked goods, cereals and crackers, so it may be difficult to avoid. Your joint pain and other reactions that occur after eating wheat need to be evaluated by your doctor and an allergist. A clinical diagnosis is required to effectively treat the condition.
Wheat Intolerance
Wheat intolerance is also referred to as wheat allergy. Wheat contains globulin, gliadin, albumin and gluten proteins that can trigger an allergic reaction in your body, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. After eating wheat proteins your immune system reacts as if the body were under attack and produces immunoglobulin E antibodies, or IgE antibodies, to attack the proteins. The introduction of these antibodies into the body causes mast cells to respond by creating histamine. Histamine is a chemical in the body that protects against infection but can also cause inflammation.
Joint Pain
Your joints are soft tissues that connect two bones to make a pivot in your body. For example, the small bones that make up your finger are connected with soft tissue, called ligaments, that make your fingers mobile. The presence of histamine between your joints in the soft tissue can cause inflammation. Inflammation of soft tissue places pressure in the joint, leading to pain. The Center for Food Allergies, a health clinic established by Dr. Stephen Wangen, states that joint pain from a food allergy may not develop until a few hours or even a day after eating the food allergen.
Diagnosis
To determine whether or not you have an allergy to wheat that's causing your joint pain, your doctor may refer you to an allergist for allergy testing. Each of the proteins found in wheat will be injected under the top layer of your skin. If you're allergic to one or more of the proteins, your skin will become inflamed within 15 minutes. The allergist may recommend testing of a sample of your blood. Your blood sample is sent to a lab where wheat proteins are introduced into the blood. If your blood creates IgE antibodies, you will be diagnosed with a wheat protein allergy.
Elimination
Eliminating all foods that contain wheat proteins is the only treatment for a wheat allergy. Wheat is found in uncommon places, such as in ice cream, salad dressings and lunch meats. You can treat the pain from the allergic reaction temporarily with over-the-counter pain relievers. Talk with your doctor before using any medication.
