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Hand Weakness And Reduced Dexterity

Jacky

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Jacky Rookie
Jacky
Posted

Over the last few months I have noticed my right hand (I am an ambidexterous lefty) has become weaker and less dexterous. I have trouble picking up small objects, turning pages in the newspaper all dexterity issues) and I have a loss of hand/finger strength. It seems to be in my fingers. I have a small spray bottle and I can no longer depress the sprayer with my right index finger. I've read about neurological symptoms associated with celiac disease, but I can't find any descriptions or specific manifestations. Please help!! I became symptomatic in January 2010 and have been trying to maintain a gluten free diet since March 2010.

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emaegf Newbie
emaegf
Posted

It's called Celiac Neuropathy it's similar to Diabetic Neuropathy with most if not all of the same symptoms. But like any other symptoms one may have to gluten they vary with each person.

Jacky Rookie
Jacky
Posted
  • Author

It's called Celiac Neuropathy it's similar to Diabetic Neuropathy with most if not all of the same symptoms. But like any other symptoms one may have to gluten they vary with each person.

Thanks so much! I googled that last night and learned so much about celiac disease neuropathy! My family doctor is running tests right now to rule out MS and I've been pretty freaked out the last few days!! I'm feel a lot better now about the whole thing. Over the last 11 months since I became an "active" celiac I have had symptoms like crazy....the rash, mouth sores, now lactose intolerant, 2 sinus infections, a virus infection that relapsed (don't know if these things are related) and now over the last 3 or more months this hand weakness.

Here's my NEXT question: I've been trying to maintain a gluten free diet for the last 9 months (hiccups from gluten containing prescriptions, can't consumed distilled alcohol such as vodka, scotch) but these symptoms have all occurred AFTER I went gluten free. Why is that? Am I going to continue to get other celiac related problems even though I'm gluten free?

This whole thing is scary and I worry if it's ever going to stabilize or if I'm going to end up really disabled from this thing. I see that you said symptoms vary from one person to another, so maybe there's no knowing...but do you know if this will eventually stabilize?

  • 4 weeks later...
Lily127 Rookie
Lily127
Posted

I wanted to chime in and say I'm sorry for your pain. I get severe joint/tendon issues of late and I know how scary it is to not be able to turn a faucet or press the lotion bottle thingy down or open a bottle. That being said I have fibromyalgia. I'm never sure if it's gluten or fibro but the odd thing is that since I've been trying to go gluten free in April of 2010 all my symptoms have gotten much worse. It's almost unreal to me how much I'm eating better and suffering more. I don't know if there is a reason for that like maybe it's pulling it out of my tissues. I don't know. I'm just rambling here as I limp along trying to type!!

I know aspirin and celebrex (not together of course) help me feel better with the stiffness/pain but they upset my stomach. So if I take 200mg of celebrex I can be normal and open the bottles and use the lotion so I also wonder if it is gluten causing it why would celebrex help in that I don't think it's just masking the pain because the redness from the hot joint goes away too. anyway just thought you might like to know that maybe celebrex might help your discomfort if you wanted to try that path. Just an option for you :)

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Have you talked to a doctor about carpal tunnel syndrome? An anti-inflammatory and a wrist brace might really help. It's especially important to sleep with your wrist in a brace if it's carpal tunnel. Celiacs do have a slightly higher incidence of carpal tunnel problems. Mine have always gone away if I take good care of my hands and wrists.

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Celebrex is an anti-inflammatory as well as a pain reliever - it relieves the pain by taking away the inflammation. :)

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    • knitty kitty
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @McKinleyWY, For a genetic test, you don't have to eat gluten, but this will only show if you have the genes necessary for the development of Celiac disease.  It will not show if you have active Celiac disease.   Eating gluten stimulates the production of antibodies against gluten which mistakenly attack our own bodies.  The antibodies are produced in the small intestines.  Three grams of gluten are enough to make you feel sick and ramp up anti-gluten antibody production and inflammation for two years afterwards.  However, TEN grams of gluten or more per day for two weeks is required to stimulate anti-gluten antibodies' production enough so that the anti-gluten antibodies move out of the intestines and into the bloodstream where they can be measured in blood tests.  This level of anti-gluten antibodies also causes measurable damage to the lining of the intestines as seen on biopsy samples taken during an endoscopy (the "gold standard" of Celiac diagnosis).   Since you have been experimenting with whole wheat bread in the past year or so, possibly getting cross contaminated in a mixed household, and your immune system is still so sensitized to gluten consumption, you may want to go ahead with the gluten challenge.   It can take two years absolutely gluten free for the immune system to quit reacting to gluten exposure.   Avoiding gluten most if the time, but then experimenting with whole wheat bread is a great way to keep your body in a state of inflammation and illness.  A diagnosis would help you stop playing Russian roulette with your and your children's health.      
    • trents
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the celiac.com community, @McKinleyWY! There currently is no testing for celiac disease that does not require you to have been consuming generous amounts of gluten (at least 10g daily, about the amount in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for at least two weeks and, to be certain of accurate testing, longer than that. This applies to both phases of testing, the blood antibody tests and the endoscopy with biopsy.  There is the option of genetic testing to see if you have one or both of the two genes known to provide the potential to develop celiac disease. It is not really a diagnostic measure, however, as 30-40% of the general population has one or both of these genes whereas only about 1% of the general population actually develops celiac disease. But genetic testing is valuable as a rule out measure. If you don't have either of the genes, it is highly unlikely that you can have celiac disease. Having said all that, even if you don't have celiac disease you can have NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) which shares many of the same symptoms as celiac disease but does not involve and autoimmune reaction that damages the lining of the small bowel as does celiac disease. Both conditions call for the complete elimination of gluten from the diet. I hope this brings some clarity to your questions.
    • McKinleyWY
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By McKinleyWY · Posted

      Hello all, I was diagnosed at the age of 2 as being allergic to yeast.  All my life I have avoided bread and most products containing enriched flour as they  contain yeast (when making the man made vitamins to add back in to the flour).  Within the last year or so, we discovered that even whole wheat products bother me but strangely enough I can eat gluten free bread with yeast and have no reactions.  Obviously, we have come to believe the issue is gluten not yeast.  Times continues to reinforce this as we are transitioning to a gluten free home and family.  I become quite ill when I consume even the smallest amount of gluten. How will my not having consumed breads/yeast/gluten for the better part of decades impact a biopsy or blood work?  I would love to know if it is a gluten intolerance or a genetic issue for family members but unsure of the results given my history of limited gluten intake.   I appreciate the input from those who have gone before me in experience and knowledge. Thank you all!
    • trents
      A little about me and my celiac disease

      By trents · Posted

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    • Peace lily
      Gluten Free Coffee

      By Peace lily · Posted

      Okay went online to check green mountain k cups .It was said that the regular coffees are fine but they couldn’t guarantee cross contamination.with the flavors. im trying to figure out since I eliminated the suyrup so far so good. I’m hoping. thanks it feels good to listen to other people there views.
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