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Joint Pain In Fingers

txgal

By txgal
in Related Issues & Disorders

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txgal Newbie
txgal
Posted

Need some direction here... I was diagnosed about 2 months ago. While I am feeling better, the joint pain I thought was unrelated, is now getting worse. I can barely use two fingers on my right hand. Besides Aleve, what have you found helpful in alleviating the pain? I'm 32 and thinking I am too young to have debilitating joint pain.

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GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

If it's not related to celiac,  then you may have to approach your Doctor.  Keeping fingers warm helps with pain along with doing finger stretches. 

 

Colleen 

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Yes, keep the joints mobile, keep stretching and straightening to maintain flexibility, is the best thing you can do.  

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I agree you may be "too young", but arthritis knows no age limit, I am afraid. I started with joint pain in my 30's.

If it is related to gluten and celiac, it may resolve in time. Try to be patient.

 

I keep moving despite the stiffness and pain because it "lubes the joints". No meds have ever really helped my chronic bone and joint pain (and I have osteoarthritis) but warmth, movement, gentle yoga and constantly gently stretching and using my body keeps me less "ouchy". Walking in a heated pool is fantastic. 

 

Try warming your hand and then just opening and closing your hand a few times a day.Like Colleen says,  if it gets worse, see a doc.

Hope you feel better soon!

srall Contributor
srall
Posted

I definitely get very bad joint pain from gluten, but even when there is absolutely no dairy/corn/gluten/soy in my diet I still can get pretty stiff based on how much alcohol I've been drinking, how much rice I've been eating (that's our only grain) and even how much sugar.  If I'm eating a paleo diet with very little alcohol (for me this means wine) and drinking a ton of water, I have no joint pain.

 

I hope you get it straightened out.  I have battled arthritis since I was very young too and it's horrible.  It might be worth a trip to the doctor just to see if you can rule out other causes.  

txgal Newbie
txgal
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for your thoughts y'all!

peeptoad Apprentice
peeptoad
Posted

You can try taking fish oil to see if it helps. Apparently DHA (specifically found in oily fish like salmon or fish oil pills) is supposed to help with joint pain (among many other things). Not sure how  long you would need to take it to see if it works though.

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dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

My joints were huge when I was diagnosed.  I had given up wearing rings because I was afraid that I would have to cut them off (the rings, not the fingers).  It took some time gluten free for them to go down, but now I am wearing rings again.  When I get into accidental gluten they go back to being big and painful.

 

It might take you some more time, or more attention to your diet.

 

I hope that you feel better soon.

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

Need some direction here... I was diagnosed about 2 months ago. While I am feeling better, the joint pain I thought was unrelated, is now getting worse. I can barely use two fingers on my right hand. Besides Aleve, what have you found helpful in alleviating the pain? I'm 32 and thinking I am too young to have debilitating joint pain.

  Have you had your thyroid checked?  I have Hashi's and if my thyroid gets too low, I get joint pain in my fingers.  It goes away completely and stays away when my thyoid is in the correct ranges.....which are different for everyone.  That could be another reason because yes, 32 is too young for joint pain.  That is a symptom of thyroid disease.

NorthernElf Enthusiast
NorthernElf
Posted

I'm going to start a new thread on this but have you had your immunoglobulins checked ? I am partway through getting diagnosed with IgG deficiency - possibly something called CVID (common variable immune disorder)....other Ig possibly low as well (just did more bloodwork). What it means is bascially low immumity and I have lots of joint pain.

 

It may not be this at all but discuss it with your doc....I am 2 years into trying to determine why I hurt, might save you some time.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Northern Elf, that would be an informative thread indeed! Please do. I'm interested in reading your thoughts/research. Thanks! IH

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

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    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
    • trents
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By trents · Posted

      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal. 
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