Muscle And Joint Pain

[sweetsailing]

I thought I would post this, perhaps others may find it helpful.

 

I have been strictly gluten free for 8 weeks now.  Muscle and joint pain was one of my predominent symptoms (along with all the assorted GI symptoms).  I had muscle and joint pain for over 2 years, sometimes so bad that I had trouble walking or walked with a limp.  Also had frequent tendonitis in various areas.  I also torn several muscles when I would try to work out likely due to nutritional deficiencies. 

 

I am happy to report that 8 weeks after going gluten free, my muscles and joints feel better than they have in 2 years and I am no longer in pain all the time.  I thought I would share somethings that worked for me and perhaps it may help others.

 

1)  I have a great sports chiropractor who specializes in treating soft tissues - those are your muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc.  Look for a chiropractor who has training in active release technique, trasverse friction massage, myofascial release and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (it's a special kind of stretching).  Although I had been going to this chiropractor for 2 years, the treatments only provided temporary relief until I went gluten free and now things are getting WAY better.

 

2)  Have a plan for exercise or training - I got a fitbit to track my steps and at first I struggled to even walk 3,000 steps a day.  Once I went gluten free, for the first 5 weeks, I only had 1 of 7 days that my steps were over 5,000, week 6 - 2 days over 5,000; week 7 - 4 days over 5,000; week 8 - 6 days over 5,000.  Next week I am increasing my goal to 6,000 a day.  I also got a personal trainer and started weight training and strengthening at the gym 1 day a week.

 

3)  I watch my protein intake and make sure I am getting enough protein everyday. 

 

4)  Multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium and magnesium

 

Most of my celiac symptoms were gone within 2 - 4 weeks of being gluten free however I didn't know if I would ever get rid of the muscle and joint pain.  I am here to tell you that there is hope.  At least for me, it seemed to take alot longer to deal with the muscle and joint pain than anything else

[MGR]

Thanks so much for sharing this with us- I greatly appreciate it as one of my most unpleasant symptoms is actually this one -? Horrendous muscle and joint pain where I not only very often cannot walk properly, but also I often cannot even sit!! And don't know what to do with my legs for the pain.... I have now been gluten free for a week and I already feel some improvement.. It is encouraging that it will get better...

[cyclinglady]

So nice to hear some success stories!  I'm so happy for you!  

 

Now, go celebrate with a wedge of gluten free chocolate cake!

[MGR]

Ja, ja a friend if mine just came round with a gluten free raspberry pavlova for afternoon tea to celebrate!!

[cyclinglady]

Thanks so much for sharing this with us- I greatly appreciate it as one of my most unpleasant symptoms is actually this one -? Horrendous muscle and joint pain where I not only very often cannot walk properly, but also I often cannot even sit!! And don't know what to do with my legs for the pain.... I have now been gluten free for a week and I already feel some improvement.. It is encouraging that it will get better...

I started taking extra magnesium and B-12 (based on input here on this forum) and it's helped my achy/tingling legs.  Unfortunately, my docs are not supplement savvy which is a shame.  I think supplements when first diagnosed will speed up healing.  

 

Good luck!