It seems odd that drinking a cup of coffee would cause joint pain, but for some people, that's exactly what it does. It's not the coffee itself that causes the pain, but rather the caffeine or the dairy you add to the coffee. If your joints hurt a few hours or even a day after you've drunk coffee, you may be having an allergic reaction to the caffeine or milk. Talk with your doctor. She can run tests to determine your exact allergy or allergies.
Coffee and Arthritis Study
A study conducted by the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland, and reported by ABC News found that drinking excessive amounts of coffee over a lifetime could increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers, however, said they didn't know why excessive coffee drinking seemed to have this consequence.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a naturally and synthetic chemical found in coffee, cola, tea, chocolate and energy beverages. It is a stimulant that can help you feel awake and mentally alert. The average cup of coffee has 95 to 200 mg of caffeine. Caffeine enters your bloodstream shortly after you consume it, affecting your brain and increasing your awareness. Caffeine has some side effects, such as nervousness, increased heart rate and sleeplessness. Caffeine may also cause an allergic reaction, which could lead to joint pain.
Allergic Reaction and Arthritis
Food-related allergies are a common cause of arthritis, according to the Center for Food Allergies. Drugs.com says that caffeine can trigger an allergic reaction, which causes your body to release chemicals that attack the substance. This, in turn, causes inflammation and swelling in soft tissue. When you consume coffee, your immune system may overreact to the caffeine or dairy added to your coffee. This causes the production of histamine and subsequent swelling in the soft tissues that connect your joints. The swelling places pressure on your joints, causing pain.
Treatment
Your doctor will need to do tests to determine if you have an allergy to one or more substances in coffee. The most effective treatment for any allergic reaction is to avoid the substance that triggers the hypersensitivity. Stop drinking coffee until you can be seen by your doctor.
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