Joint Pain And Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies come about at specific periods of the year. Such allergies usually affect different parts of the body including the eyes, throat, and noses. These allergies are usually accompanied by joint pains. Having said this, the question of how such allergies are related to joint pain still lingers in peoples minds.
Seasonal allergies usually manifest in similar ways as the common colds that are characterized by running noses, itchy eyes and sore throat among others. The difference may be hard to recognize since seasoned allergies do manifest in joint pain too as is the case with the common cold.
Experiencing joint pain may, therefore, be directly linked with colds or seasonal allergies until other symptoms are put into consideration.
Joint pain accompanied by fever is a clear sign of cold while when the pain manifests together with itching of the throat and eyes, running nose or sneezing, then that is an indication of allergies.
Joint pain in seasonal allergies is attributed to increased inflammation as the antibodies try to fight the foreign allergens causing the allergy. The eyes, throat and nose experience inflammation as the immune system fights hard to protect the body against the allergens. Due to the pressure exerted on the immune system, the body gets exhausted and this may cause aching of the joints.
There Are 4 Types Of Sinuses Which Are All Found In Pairs With One On Each Side Of The Face
Can Allergies Cause Neck Pain Headache
If the sphenoid sinuses are very large they can extend close to the base of the occipital bone, in the back of your head. This area is close to the neck. You may feel that a congested sphenoid sinus is causing neck pressure and pain during allergy season.
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How Food Intolerance Impacts Your Overall Health
Sometimes food intolerance symptoms are masked as a chronic condition. Some patients discover that they have been suffering for years from conditions that could be solved by eliminating certain foods from their diet. ;Food intolerance symptoms can look like other issues which is why it is important to enlist the help when you are identifying the true causes behind your symptoms. ;Mile High Spine & Pain Center is equipped to help you identify your symptoms and get you back to your former good health.
The symptoms caused by food intolerance and sensitivities are varied. They usually cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, cramping, irritable bowel and can include skin rashes and sometimes fatigue, joint pains, dark circles under the eyes, night sweats and other chronic conditions. ;
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How Do Allergy Shots Cause Joint And Muscle Pain
Allergy or vaccine shots contain small quantities of allergens. They are injected into the immune system of the body to slowly introduce allergens to the body and develop a natural immunity towards them. It neutralizes the bodys sensitivity towards allergy causing sources and it stops reacting to them over a period of time when introduced to the allergens. However, in some people, the immune system may fail at thriving in an amicable environment with the allergens and the bodys natural defense mechanism sets off to push the toxins out of the body in the form of liquid through watery eyes, runny nose and swelling.
So, you start showing side effects, causing joint pain and muscle pain. This may happen in two cases, the immune system is not strong enough to produce enough antibodies to develop an immunity or the dose of allergen administered is too high for the immune system to deal with and it over reacts. This can further inflame the already existing allergy and the body starts reacting by producing more water to flush it out. The obvious reaction would be that swollen body parts and swellings have a greater likeliness to appear on joints, while muscles suffer through cramps and fatigue.
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You Suffer From Chronic Headaches And/or Migraines
You have headache pain upon awakening in the morning, several hours after a meal, or even a day after eating certain foods. This is often due to food sensitivities which act as migraine triggers, and/or trigger a hypoglycemic response.
Solution: Keep a food diary and write down everything you eat. Notice patterns of how certain foods affect you. Certain foods and additives are known migraine triggers . Sending off a food allergy profile can be helpful;in determining which foods may adversely be affecting you.
The Link Between Seasonal Allergies And Chronic Pain
Do you notice your seasonal allergies causing back pain or chronic joint pain? Youre not alone! With spring right around the corner, our ISPM physicians begin to see a large number of patients who feel worsening chronic pain when seasonal allergies hit. Without further ado, lets get into the link between seasonal allergies and chronic pain.
Seasonal Allergies & Chronic Pain
Inflammation- Both joint pain and allergies are caused by inflammation in the body.
Fatigue- Often times, allergies cause you to be fatigued which can also be a trigger for chronic pain.
Shifts in weather- Rapid changes in temperature, humidity or barometric pressure can cause pain to feel worse.
Emotional factors– Allergies can cause your brain to feel foggy and less focused. The lack of mental clarity leads to worsening emotional stability and the potential for chronic pain to be triggered.
The Link
Seasonal allergies put extra stress on the body which can make chronic pain symptoms feel more intense. It can also affect your immune systemand in turncause inflammation in your joints leading to pain. Allergies are a big producer of body aches. Constant coughing and sneezing leads to headaches, neck and back pain. Anyone already dealing with chronic pain may find this very overwhelming!
The physicians at ISPM are here to help get your pain under controlno matter the season.
Seasonal Allergies
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Sinus congestion
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Joint pain, neck pain or back pain
Prevent Pain During Allergy Season
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What Does Aching Feel Like
Achy: Achy pain occurs continuously in a localized area, but at mild or moderate levels. You may describe similar sensations as heavy or sore. Dull: Like aching pain, dull discomfort occurs at a low level over a long period of time. Dull pain, however, may intensify when you put pressure on the affected body part.
Despite Symptoms Its Not The Flu
COVID-19 is not the flu.
As one of a class of pathogens known as coronaviruses, its actually more closely related to the common cold than the seasonal flu.
However, despite some overlap, the typical symptoms of COVID-19 are more similar to the flu than the common cold .
The new delta variant of COVID-19, however, may have more cold-like symptoms.
In terms of differentiating between flu and COVID-19, it can be almost impossible to distinguish, Dr. Jake Deutsch, co-founder and clinical director of Cure Urgent Care centers and Specialty Infusion in New York. Thats why people are recommended to have flu vaccinations so it can at least minimize the risk of flu in light of everything else.
Fevers, body aches, coughing, sneezing could all be equally attributed to them both, so it really means that if theres a concern for flu, theres a concern for COVID-19, Deutsch said.
If you have a mild case of COVID-19, the flu, or a cold, treatment is geared toward management of symptoms, said Cutler.
Generally, acetaminophen is recommended for fevers, he said. Cough drops and cough syrups can also help keep mucus secretions thinner. If there is associated nasal congestion, antihistamines may be useful.
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What Triggers Your Symptoms
Your symptoms may vary depending on the time of the year, where you live, and what types of allergies you have. Knowing these factors can help you prepare for your symptoms. Early springtime often affects people with seasonal allergies, but nature blooms at different times of the year. For example:
- Tree pollen is more common in the early spring.
- Grass pollen is more common in late spring and summer.
- Ragweed pollen is more common in the fall.
- Pollen allergies can be worse on hot, dry days when the wind carries the pollen.
But your hay fever symptoms may appear all year round, if youre allergic to indoor allergens. Indoor allergens include:
- dust mites
- cockroaches
- mold and fungal spores
Sometimes symptoms for these allergens can appear seasonally too. Allergies to mold spores tend to be worse during warmer or more humid weather.
Hay fever symptoms can also be made worse by other irritants. This is because hay fever causes inflammation in the lining of the nose and makes your nose more sensitive to irritants in the air.
These irritants include:
Gluten Intolerance Wheat Allergy And Celiac Disease
Many people have found eliminating gluten from their diet has a good effect on energy levels. The reason might be that gluten, a protein in wheat ,barley and rye can damage the gut wall and lead to inflammation throughout the body. Wheat is the most common source of gluten in the American diet, a food that many people have eaten almost every day of their lives. Besides the repeated exposure which we are genetically not prepared to tolerate , there are subtle changes in the wheat protein itself through agribusiness farming methods.;
Avoiding gluten is often accompanied by rapid weight loss, better energy, clearer thinking and less aches and pains. Unfortunately, this does not clearly happen in everyone who stops eating wheat. At times the benefits are ;more subtle leading people to give up on these restrictions even if in the long run it would be beneficial to stay off gluten. However, there are blood tests that can help identify who is gluten intolerant or wheat allergic that I have found useful in the many patients who do not easily improve with gluten avoidance.;
The bottom line: diet, food allergy and gluten intolerance are major factors in fatigue and tiredness that need to be addressed to achieve the vitality and high level wellness we all strive for.;
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Body Aches And Chills
Youre just going about your day and suddenly it hits you. There are a number of different illnesses that cause these aches and chills symptoms and others. You might want to know what might be getting you down and what to do for it. This article explains some of the more common causes, things you can do at home, and when to check in with your doctor.
Why Do I Have Body Aches And Chills But No Fever
Infection. Just like with the flu virus, your body can turn on the chills in response to other infections. This may help your immune system kick in faster and work better. Chills are a common symptom of infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections , and malaria.21 2019 .
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When To Seek Help From Your Doctors
If you suffer from allergies and neck pain at the same time, seek care for both ailments. Do not just treat your allergies, hoping that your neck pain will automatically go away. Similarly, do not assume that treatment for your neck pain will improve your allergies. The two problems might be unrelated.
See a general practitioner or an immunologist if:
- Your allergies persist after treatment with over-the-counter medications
- Your allergies interfere with your daily life, such as driving safely or work
Neck pain requires a visit to a pain specialist who can diagnose the underlying problem and offer you the best treatment.
See a pain specialist if:
- Neck pain does not improve with over-the-counter medications
- You have trouble turning your head while driving
- A doctor has diagnosed you with neck problems in the past
Underactive Thyroid And Fatigue
Symptoms: Extreme fatigue, sluggishness, feeling run-down, depression, cold intolerance, weight gain
The problem may be a slow or underactive thyroid. This is known as . The is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the base of your neck. It helps set the rate of , which is the rate at which the body uses energy.
According to the American Thyroid Foundation, about 17% of all women will have a disorder by age 60. And most wont know it. The most common cause is an autoimmune disorder known as Hashimotos thyroiditis. Hashimotos stops the gland from making enough thyroid hormones for the body to work the way it should. The result is hypothyroidism, or a slow .
Blood tests known as T3 and T4 will detect thyroid hormones. If these hormones are low, synthetic hormones can bring you up to speed, and you should begin to feel better fairly rapidly.
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Asthma From Pollen Allergies
Pollen can be breathed into the lungs and directly cause asthma in some people. This can be unrelated to hay fever symptoms. Symptoms of asthma include:
- chest tightness or pain
- blocked sinuses
- extreme tiredness.
One in five Australians experience hay fever symptoms and they can be debilitating. People with hay fever are more likely to develop sinus infections, and can have interrupted sleep that leads to extreme tiredness. Severe hay fever symptoms can affect learning in children and productivity in adults. Hay fever can also make it more difficult to control asthma in those who are more likely to get it.
Symptoms Of Allergic Rhinitis
Your symptoms can vary, depending on the severity of your allergies. Symptoms can include:
- Sneezing.
- Itching .
- Runny nose.
- Pressure in the nose and cheeks.
- Ear fullness and popping.
- Watery, red, or swollen eyes.
- Dark circles under your eyes.
- Trouble smelling.
- Hives.
Allergic rhinitis can last several weeks, longer than a cold or the flu. It does not cause fever. The nasal discharge from hay fever is thin, watery, and clear. Nasal discharge from a cold or the flu tends to be thicker. Itching is common with hay fever but not with a cold or the flu. Sneezing occurs more with hay fever. You may even have severe sneeze attacks.
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How Do Allergies Cause Fatigue
Yes, allergies can make you feel tired. Most people with a stuffy nose and head caused by allergies will have some trouble sleeping. But allergic reactions can also release chemicals that cause you to feel tired. These chemicals help fight your allergies but also cause swelling of your nasal tissues that can make your symptoms worse. A lack of sleep and constant nasal congestion can give you a hazy, tired feeling.
Experts call this fatigue caused by allergies a brain fog. Brain fog can make it difficult to concentrate and carry out school, work, and daily activities.
If youre experiencing the effects of brain fog, there are some things you can do to feel less tired. First, youll need to stop the cycle of allergy symptoms and fatigue. You can try:
Can Allergy Shots Cause Muscle And Joint Pain
Allergy shots can do more bad than good sometimes. The most common problem experienced being joint pains, it can get worse. It all has to do with the way your body reacts to the shots.
Allergy shots can do more bad than good sometimes. The most common problem experienced being joint pains, it can get worse. It all has to do with the way your body reacts to the shots.
Three years ago, Savannah took a course of allergy shots to get rid of her allergic reaction to mold. However, she was tormented by the stabbing pain in her arm for the next few days. After visiting the doctor, she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . Within the next few months, her wrists and other joints became so weak that she couldnt even play her favorite sports. The doctor has warned her to guard her wrist against injuries in future. She is now taking therapies to strengthen her joints.
The above case is frequently reported by people who start taking immunotherapy or allergy shots. So, is joint and/or muscle pain an allergic reaction to these shots? This is ironic in itself because you take the shots hoping it will help reduce the symptoms of allergy. A lot of people are allergic to furry animals, pollen grains, dust, mold, insect bites, nuts, onions and garlic, corn, dairy and other things.
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Can Seasonal Allergies Lead To Neck Pain
- NSPC Team
Winter is over, the sun is out, flowers are blooming and you are miserable. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, the start of warm weather ushers in endless hours of sneezing, itchy eyes, and sinus congestion.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Every year, 20 million Americans suffer from pollen allergies, otherwise known as hay fever. While allergy symptoms are tolerable for many people, others experience added distress due to neck pain.
If allergies and neck pain bother you at the same time of the year, you may wonder if there is a connection between the two. We will examine some possible reasons for this pattern.
How Is Allergic Rhinitis Diagnosed
If your symptoms interfere with your daily life, see your family doctor. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical exam. Keeping a record of your symptoms over a period of time can help your doctor determine what triggers your allergies.
Your doctor may want to do an allergy skin test to determine what you are allergic to. During an allergy skin test, tiny amounts of allergens are applied to your skin. You will feel tiny pricks to your skin. It is not painful. Your doctor will observe and record the way your skin reacts to each allergen.
Your doctor may also decide to do a blood test, such as the radioallergosorbent test . This test identifies antibodies in your blood that determine what youre allergic to. Once your allergens are identified, you and your doctor can decide the best treatment.
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