[JillianLindsay]

Hi everyone,

I was very recently diagnosed (gluten-free for a week now!). For the past 6 weeks I've been experiencing severe knee pain. At first our team athletic therapist thought it was tendonitis from over-use after a tournament. I rested it and have been icing it twice a day, but last night it was so bad I had to ask to be taken out of my soccer match. I play for a first division, highly competitive team and love it like crazy. I talked to my DR and he wants to see if after some time on the diet the knee pain dissipates, but I'm in a tourney this weekend and I want to play! My AT said to try heat now because the ice wasn't working... Does anyone have any advice for things I can do to reduce the pain and prevent further injuring my knees?

I know that arthritis and joint pain are assocated with celiac disease, but it was such a sudden onset I was sure it was tedonitis from playing 5 games in one weekend at a tourney. The pain is mostly at the bottom (front) of my kneecaps and somewhat on the inside of my knee. I've gotten new orthotics, taken advil before the games, and followed all my AT's advice, but it seems to be getting worse instead of better. I hope someone has some ideas as to what I can do! I love soccer and it is very frustrating not to be able to play.

Thanks,
Jillian

[tarnalberry]

I would suggest going to an orthopaedist.
There are a number of things it could be (as always), and you need someone who knows the options. You might find that a chiropractor can help as well, or a PT (if you're in a state that doesn't require a referral to go to a PT).

[zkat]

I am a fellow soccer player with Celiac! I have been gluten free for over 2 years, but when I do get glutened - all my inflamation responses flare - shin splints, IT Band (Has you AT checked your IT - mine will kill me from over use after a tourney), you name it it flares. It does subside with time, ice and Arnica Gel. It is also possible you truly hurt it in the tourney, hard to say over the internet.

If your AT is comfortable that it is not a tear, then you may just need time. Arnica Gel is my magic gel. I sprained my foot a month ago in a game and it is the only thing that keeps me walking and on the field.

The most interesting thing for me about going gluten-free and soccer is my coordination and skills improved soooo much gluten-free. I can always tell when I have been gluten b/c my ball control is way off.

Good luck!

Kat.

[JillianLindsay]

Thanks Kat,

I think my AT and DR aren't sure what it is lol but we're sure it's not a tear. We're just not sure if it's simply due to the gluten, overuse, or arthritis... or a combination of any of them. They want to wait to see if the diet helps reduce or eliminate the pain. I've been using heat because the ice didn't work and I'll look into Arnica or some kind of pain-relieving rub to take with me to the tourney. I'm now 10-days gluten free and can't wait to see what life will be like without the gluten-related symptoms!

I sure hope I can play throughout the tourney this weekend... *fingers crossed*!

Thanks,
Jillian

zkat, on Jul 16 2009, 09:20 PM, said:

I am a fellow soccer player with Celiac! I have been gluten free for over 2 years, but when I do get glutened - all my inflamation responses flare - shin splints, IT Band (Has you AT checked your IT - mine will kill me from over use after a tourney), you name it it flares. It does subside with time, ice and Arnica Gel. It is also possible you truly hurt it in the tourney, hard to say over the internet.

If your AT is comfortable that it is not a tear, then you may just need time. Arnica Gel is my magic gel. I sprained my foot a month ago in a game and it is the only thing that keeps me walking and on the field.

The most interesting thing for me about going gluten-free and soccer is my coordination and skills improved soooo much gluten-free. I can always tell when I have been gluten b/c my ball control is way off.

Good luck!

Kat.

[JillianLindsay]

I made it through the tourney!! I even played well, scored a goal and had minimal pain. Heat throughout the week really helped. My AT thinks that means it is more likely arthritis, but I hope not. GP sent me for an X-ray to investigate further and recommended physio.... we shall see!

[SLB5757]

Hello Lindsay,

I don't know how much hello this is to you now that you are post tourney - but my daughter who is 10 plays soccer and has been having knee issues as well. Most recently she dropped mid field almost as though her leg had given out on her - she hadn't been hit by a ball or anything. She reported having a random sharp pain and then just dropped and it hurt anytime she walked/put pressure on it. The injury was by the kneecap, and on the outer side if I remember correctly. It has been a few months, but the doctors had diagnosed it as a right lateral patellar subluxation (sp). When she saw the PT people for therapy, they said she still had great strength and range of movement so she wasn't too bad off, but they also stated that this is a very common injury for women who play soccer particularly. The PT said that it was in part due to the way a woman's/girls frame is set up. They typically have wider hips that go down to what almost looks liek a v shape by the time you hit the ankles. Well my daughter is a little more "hippy" and developed, and her legs go down to a v at the knees, but also start to go out a little after the knees to account for the hips and to stabilize the hips more for structuure. There is a precise measurement they use like it is a certain "angle" I think, but again I am not a PT person and those are my laymens terms for what they said. lol.

After the appointment, they fitted her for a very high quality knee brace that was aver 100.00 (insurance covered). It was much better than the braces you could find at the athletics stores or drugstore. It had patella support and straps that reinforced the kneecap. This brace helped her pain tremendously. She will still occasionally have pain - so I know it's not completely going to go away - but I do not allow her to play w/out the brace - and it gets her through her games without pain.

Good luck

[JillianLindsay]

Thanks everyone! I'm now attending Physiotherapy. X-rays were negative for arthritis *whew*, the PT thinks it's tendonitis. I now have it in both my knees and both my achilles tendons lol. It's pretty painful, but hopefully the physio will help. Only 2 weeks left in our soccer season so after that I'll do lots of strength training and rest the sore areas until hockey season starts!

I am also wondering about glucosamine... Does anyone know if its use for joint health is it well-supported in scientific literature? And do people generally experience any side-effects from it (i.e. drowsiness, so take it at night)? I am considering giving it a try and if people could share more about their experience it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jillian

[dilettantesteph]

I had to quit skiing for awhile because of knee pain. Then I got some knee braces and they made all the difference. After gluten free now, I don't have knee pain anymore. Maybe braces can get you through the inbetween period.

[JillianLindsay]

After a couple of physio appointments, my knee & achilles pain seem to be tendonitis from over-use rather than related to gluten. My PT wants me to rest for 6 weeks but I only have 4 games left in my season, so I'll rest after that

dilettantesteph, on Aug 8 2009, 04:29 PM, said:

I had to quit skiing for awhile because of knee pain. Then I got some knee braces and they made all the difference. After gluten free now, I don't have knee pain anymore. Maybe braces can get you through the inbetween period.

[spent]

JillianLindsay, on Aug 9 2009, 10:16 AM, said:

After a couple of physio appointments, my knee & achilles pain seem to be tendonitis from over-use rather than related to gluten. My PT wants me to rest for 6 weeks but I only have 4 games left in my season, so I'll rest after that

JillianLindsay

I am not sure exactly what the connection between Celiac's and tendonitis is, but I was given the same "over use" shbeel too, but I really think that this disease just limits the body's ability to recover. I am a 20 year old male and I regularly have to take days off between playing soccer and basketball. Basketball is off couse rougher on the knees because both the harder suface and the fact that much more jumping is involved. I am sure that resting an extended period of time would definitely calm down your inflammation but keep in mind that the pain will still reoccur, that is unless that can be fixed with going gluten free. I just got diagnosed with Celiac's two weeks ago and I am hopefull that my pain will subside. For now though, I push through the pain while being mindful that my knees probably have a threshold until something goes.

Like I said, I have been "gluten free" for two weeks and am hopeful that I will see positive results concerning my knees. I will let you know if they began feeling better anytime soon and I will look forward to hearing updates from you as well!!

Shane

[JillianLindsay]

Hi Shane,

Have you gone to physio? I got stretches, massage, strengthening exercises, ultrasound and even acupuncture! I was skeptical about the acupuncture, but the combination of all the above therapies have really helped. I still have pain, but it's not as severe. During the off season between soccer and hockey I'll be working hard to strengthen the muscles around my knees (and achilles) to help prevent further injury.

Good luck to us all
Jillian

spent, on Aug 16 2009, 10:25 PM, said:

JillianLindsay

I am not sure exactly what the connection between Celiac's and tendonitis is, but I was given the same "over use" shbeel too, but I really think that this disease just limits the body's ability to recover. I am a 20 year old male and I regularly have to take days off between playing soccer and basketball. Basketball is off couse rougher on the knees because both the harder suface and the fact that much more jumping is involved. I am sure that resting an extended period of time would definitely calm down your inflammation but keep in mind that the pain will still reoccur, that is unless that can be fixed with going gluten free. I just got diagnosed with Celiac's two weeks ago and I am hopefull that my pain will subside. For now though, I push through the pain while being mindful that my knees probably have a threshold until something goes.

Like I said, I have been "gluten free" for two weeks and am hopeful that I will see positive results concerning my knees. I will let you know if they began feeling better anytime soon and I will look forward to hearing updates from you as well!!

Shane

[Nadia2009]

JillianLindsay, on Jul 16 2009, 07:47 AM, said:

Hi everyone,

I was very recently diagnosed (gluten-free for a week now!). For the past 6 weeks I've been experiencing severe knee pain. At first our team athletic therapist thought it was tendonitis from over-use after a tournament. I rested it and have been icing it twice a day, but last night it was so bad I had to ask to be taken out of my soccer match. I play for a first division, highly competitive team and love it like crazy. I talked to my DR and he wants to see if after some time on the diet the knee pain dissipates, but I'm in a tourney this weekend and I want to play! My AT said to try heat now because the ice wasn't working... Does anyone have any advice for things I can do to reduce the pain and prevent further injuring my knees?

I know that arthritis and joint pain are assocated with celiac disease, but it was such a sudden onset I was sure it was tedonitis from playing 5 games in one weekend at a tourney. The pain is mostly at the bottom (front) of my kneecaps and somewhat on the inside of my knee. I've gotten new orthotics, taken advil before the games, and followed all my AT's advice, but it seems to be getting worse instead of better. I hope someone has some ideas as to what I can do! I love soccer and it is very frustrating not to be able to play.

Thanks,
Jillian

If it wasn't already suggested, I advise you to read this book "The Egoscue Method of Health through Motion". It is a very safe and do it yourself therapy without manipulation and medecine.

http://backandneck.about.com/od/exercisean...fr/esgoscue.htm

If you lived in the States, it would be easier to find a chiropractor who uses this therapy but Canadians are not fond of Egoscue and I really dont know why. Egoscue clinics can be find in England, Germany and Australia but not in Canada

There is an E-cise to stop pain in any area of your body.


Hope this helps.

[Doublevision]

Hi guys,
Ive found it quite interesting Reading this thread. I'm surprised only a few people have mentioned strength exercises to help
with knee pain. I own a successful strength studio in the uk and we have become specialists in knee rehabilitation. It's funny as it's so easy to rehab/prehab the majority of peoples knees as most people are weak in the same place (vmo/hamstrings). Some really simple exercises rep/tempo/set schemes can be used and the results are awesome. I'm also on this thread as were having to deal with more and more gluten intollerant athletes and general public, so are fast having to become experts in gluten.

Please email us through our site if you would like any more info. (doublevisionpt.com)

Regards

Mark