Celiac Arthritis/fibro

[JennyD]

Hey everyone, so I wanted to see if anyone else has heard of this... I went to see my general care doctor a few months ago and she felt that some of my symptoms sounded like Fibro. I have been gluten free for 1.5 years now, Celiac diagnosed in December of 2013. I want to say about 6 months or so ago I finally started feeling great after following my diet but I noticed some muscle aches etc. Anyway long story short, I went to see a Rheumatologist who ran some panels and she agreed with the Fibro diagnosis but also said that Celiac Arthritis is a thing... and separate from Celiac disease alone. I tried looking this up but I am not finding much on just "Celiac Arthritis", has anyone else heard of or struggle with this?

 

Advice is welcome

[Judy3]

Hi  I have all of the above.. Celiac, Arthritis, and Fibro.   My rheumatologist never mentioned a 'Celiac Arthritis' but he did say that I have it 'everywhere' which leads him to believe it's not just normal Arthritis but my Rheumatoid tests came back negative.   Maybe there is something to that.    My Fibro isn't as bad as it used to be since I'm gluten free and aspartame free (that came first) but he said I still have some signs of the Fibro just not like it used to be. 

 

Good luck with all of it.  It's not fun but I feel better than I ever have in my life except for the aches and pains so it's worth it.   I find for the aches and pains simple easy stretches throughout the day help a lot ..  

[JennyD]

Thanks Judy Yeah my blood work also showed no Rhumatoid arthritis so that's consistent. Thanks for the well wishes also. Really after the Celiac diagnosis I was really down for a few months (mentally/physically) and have since been really positive about this whole thing... overall It could be so much worse! The Fibro/Celiac Arthritis pain is at a point that I can manage it just fine, stretching does def. help a lot along with mild excersize and plenty of short walks through the day. Over all I am feeling pretty great and healthy and am glad to sort out everything that is going on in my body lol. Thanks again for the reply, I am glad someone else has heard of this Celiac Arthritis thing.

 

[nvsmom]

I have osteoarthritis, and I had arthritis caused by celiac disease.  The Osteoarthritis is always there and doesn't come with fatigue and flu-like feelings like the celiac disease related arthritis.  That autoimmune arthritis (for me) would start with fatigue, then I felt like I was coming down with a flu that I would never fully get, followed by hairloss and then the symmetrical pain would hit.  I rarely got swollen or hot joints, but my joints (fingers, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and sometimes hip) would get very very weak and painful.  I had a hard time using scissors, could barely get my arm high enough to brush my hair, and felt a lot of pain carrying a bag with a hardcover book in it.  It would be severe, last 2 weeks to 4 months, and then be gone without any lasting damage (thank goodness).  With OA, when it gets worse, it stays worse (for me).

 

I had all the tsets run for RA and lupus a few years ago and they were fine.  I didn't even have a positive ANA anymore.  I had my hands and hips Xrayed too.  There was no sign of RA in any joints, but OA in my hips. (Boooo!   LOL)

 

My celiac linked arthritis took a looonnnng time to improve on the gluten-free diet. In fact, it was horrible from 2-6 months gluten-free, and I was convinced I had lupus.  After that, the arthritis severity and frequency decreased, and basically stopped shortly after being gluten-free for two years.  I had that type of arthritis from age 23 to 40, and now it appears to be gone.    Knock wood.

 

This is one symptom that requires a great deal of patience while waiting for improvements.  Hang in there!