When you think about an allergic reaction to food, you may envision hives, itching, a rash, a runny nose, or stomach pain. And while these are among the most common food allergy symptoms, they aren’t the only ones. In fact, some members of MyFoodAllergyTeam have wondered whether joint pain might be related to their food allergies.

“I have noticed some joint pain lately and have been experiencing reactions to allergies, including swelling from hives. I wonder if they’re related,” one member asked. Another said, “My joints start to hurt around day four after an allergic reaction.”

If you’ve ever experienced pain in your hips, knees, elbows, wrists, or other joints after allergen exposure, read on to find out how the two may be related.

Food Allergies and Joint Pain

Joint pain among people with food allergies hasn’t been widely studied, but some health experts believe there may be a connection. Doctors agree that in some cases, people with food sensitivities may experience joint pain, but note that it’s often related to rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes your body to attack the tissue lining your joints, leading to joint inflammation, pain, and issues with movement. In one study on animals, researchers found that rheumatoid arthritis was more prevalent in those with high levels of antibodies against eggs or milk. However, a larger study will need to be performed on humans to confirm these results.

Another older study indicated that up to 40 percent of people with rheumatoid arthritis who followed a food elimination diet were able to reduce their arthritis symptoms. During an elimination diet, people remove certain foods from their diet to evaluate whether their symptoms improve. This may suggest a link between food and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Celiac Disease and Joint Pain

Scientists haven’t come to a consensus on whether there’s a link between food allergies and joint pain. But many researchers have made a definite connection between celiac disease and pain in the joints.

Celiac disease is not a food allergy or food intolerance, but a separate autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack healthy cells. The trigger is gluten, which is found in certain grains, such as wheat.

Joint pain is a common symptom for people with celiac disease. In addition, individuals with celiac disease are more likely to have problems in their leg joints where muscles attach to bones compared to those without celiac disease. If you think you may be experiencing celiac disease in addition to your allergies, reach out to a gastroenterologist or allergist for information about testing.

Other Causes of Joint Pain

You may experience joint pain and stiffness due to other reasons besides your food allergy, celiac disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, a condition called bursitis can cause pain in your shoulders, hips, knees, and elbows due to overuse of those joints. Another condition, osteoarthritis, is a type of arthritis that causes joint pain and stiffness, and typically affects people over 45.

Other joint issues may actually be related to what you eat. For example, gout is a type of arthritis that causes small crystals of uric acid to build up in your joints. It most often affects the big toe, but it can also cause pain in your ankles, knees, feet, hands, elbows, and wrists.

Gout can flare up if you eat foods with too many purines in them. Purines are chemicals in certain foods, including alcoholic beverages, certain types of meat and seafood, and foods and drinks with a lot of sugar. If it seems like your joint pain worsens when you eat specific foods, but you don’t have other allergic reactions, you may be experiencing gout.

Always talk to your doctor about any new symptoms you notice, including chronic joint pain. They can perform further testing and evaluate whether you might be facing other issues in addition to your allergies. They may also refer you to a rheumatologist, a specialist who can provide medical advice to help pinpoint and ease your joint pain.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyFoodAllergyTeam is the social network for people with food allergies and their loved ones. On MyFoodAllergyTeam, more than 41,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with allergies to food.

Have you ever experienced joint pain while living with food allergies? What triggers it? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.