Caffeine stimulates your nervous system, perks you up when feeling groggy and plays a role in pain management but use of caffeine may also come with negative effects. Caffeine was once thought to induce various pains of your muscles and joints but ongoing research has found this may not be the case. If you experience joint pain, consult your physician to decide what works best for your condition and the role caffeine plays in pain management.
Types of Joint Pain
Joint pain can stem from a range of causes and you can experience varying levels of severity. Medical conditions causing joint pain include rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder or osteoarthritis, a degenerative disorder. Temporary pain can also occur from infectious disease or inflammation of your joints from exercise and overexertion or chronic pain from conditions like gout. Regardless of cause, you experience the discomfort and, like most people, may want to diminish the intensity and duration. Before using any substance on persistent pain consult your physician for accurate diagnosis to ensure you treat the cause not mask it with random medications.
Caffeine and Rheumatoid Arthritis
A 2003 study published in "Arthritis and Rheumatism" reviewed and retested a previously studied theory that caffeine causes rheumatoid arthritis. The study examined a cohort of 121,701 women older than 18 years and accounted for confounding variables that also contribute to disease develop. In conclusion, the researchers found that little evidence existed of an association between caffeine increasing the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Study participants did not drink more than 4 standard cups of coffee or tea per day and smoking in some subjects was actually associated with increased disease risk.
Coffee and Gout
Gout is a form of arthritis associated with high uric acid build up that often causes repeated episodes of joint pain and inflammation. The Arthritis Foundation summarized the results of a 2007 study by researchers H.K. Choi and colleagues published in "Arthritis and Rheumatism" by saying that men drinking 4 cups or more of caffeinated coffee per day have a reduced risk of gout. The study shows that the caffeine lowers the level of uric acid in the blood significantly, which is the primary risk factor for developing gout. Take caution, however, because 4 cups or more of coffee per day may have unwanted side effects of insomnia, irritability, muscle tremors and stomach upset.
Caffeine and Acute Joint Pain
As a stimulant, caffeine digests rapidly; you can feel the effects within minutes of consumption. It blocks receptors in your brain called adenosines, which induces relaxation and activates dopamine chemicals associated with energy and pain relief. A 2009 study summarized in Science Daily and conducted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign indicates that small doses of caffeine before your workout can prolong the duration of your exercise, but also prohibit the pain you may experience in your joints from strenuous activity.
Daily Caffeine Consumption
Moderate daily doses of caffeine at no more than 300 mg per day or two to four cups of coffee may improve joint pain while also giving you an energy boost. Consistent use of caffeine can lead to withdrawal symptoms when you are not consuming the substance. Withdrawal may include the jitters, headaches and fatigue. If you experience excess caffeine consumption, consider cutting back and keeping track of consumption. Caffeine is found in soda, chocolate, tea, coffee and several over-the-counter pain relief medications.
References
- Arthritis and Rheumatism; Coffee Consumption and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis; Elizabeth W. Karlson et al; Nov. 2003
- Arthritis Foundation: Coffee May Lower Gout Risk
- Townsend Letter Group; The Influence of Caffeine on Pain; Melvyn R. Werbach M.D.; 2005
- Science Daily; Caffeine Reduces Pain During Exercise, Study Shows; April 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Caffeine; How Much is Too Much?; Mayo Clinic Staff; March 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Joint Pain
