Spring is considered to be the highest time for allergies all over the United States, and pollen is one of the main culprits of Phoenix allergies. Although some of the common symptoms include an itchy nose or throat, coughing, red or watery eyes, sneezing or nasal congestion, in some cases, humidity and quick temperature changes may cause joint pain and back ache.
Our body is formed by multiple systems and if one of them is damaged it will affect the other – so if you are wondering whether allergies can cause back pain, read below to find out what is the connection between these two and how you can prevent the symptoms from worsening.
What is the connection between seasonal allergies and back aches?
Allergies, especially seasonal ones, can often be connected to joint or back pains in multiple ways. Although seasonal allergies are not the direct culprit for back pains, they generally do influence chronic pain. In the case of an allergen, the immune system responds to “the threat” by trying to eliminate it, and this can cause inflammation which ultimately leads to back or joint aches. This is not to be confused with cold symptoms, though – a runny nose or itchy throat can occur in case of both allergies and a cold, so always check with a board-certified allergy specialist to determine the cause for your symptoms. Osteoarthritis, Lyme disease or spinal stenosis are some of the main causes of back pain, and these symptoms will get worse in cold, damp climates. Some physicians also noticed that, in some patients, if allergies were treated, their muscle pains diminished as well.
Simply put, the two main links between allergies and back pain is the inflammation caused by allergies and the other one is fatigue. Your body and immune system are working hard to fight the allergens, and this leads to tiredness.
How to prevent back pains during allergy season?
As seen above, seasonal allergies can make pain (especially chronic ones) feel more intense, as the immune system works harder to flush the allergens out of your body. Also, if you sneeze and cough a lot can cause headaches or back pains.
The first step in managing your back pain would be to identify what causes it and a doctor can help you determine it and understand more about your condition. Your physician will also come up with the right treatment or pain management plan. There are multiple things you can also do to make your symptoms more bearable.
- Exercise regularly to maintain back strength – before taking up any type of exercise, make sure you check with your physician, who can recommend the right ones for you and prevent further injuries. Some studies show that even as little as 20 minutes of exercise per day can have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects.
- Keep yourself warm – make sure you dress appropriately when the weather is cold and avoid damp places. Cold and damp environments can worsen your inflammation due to reduced fluid build-up. Problems in your joints are also caused by sudden temperature changes which can lead to inflammations and also restrict movements.
- Always take into consideration the pollen counts and stay indoors when this is high. Use the AC and keep your windows closed as much as possible. Pollen counts increase especially after rainfall and on windy days. However, certain allergens, such as ragweed or grass are more common on warm days and cold nights.
The takeaway
Seasonal allergies not only come with annoying symptoms but can also cause fatigue and weaken your immune system. If on top of all this, you suffer from back pain, make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible. Determining the cause of your backache and if there is any connection with your allergies is the first step to having the right treatment plan in place. Some studies show that by treating the allergy symptoms, especially through immunotherapy, chronic back pain often diminishes as well.
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