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Joint Pain/Inflammation/Stiffness?

DrubNonie

By DrubNonie
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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DrubNonie Rookie
DrubNonie
Posted

Hey Everyone,

 

A few months ago I was diagnosed with "celiac" disease by my GI(my antibody showed a 25 at labcorp with a normal range of 1-9, while my biopsy was negative). I had taken a gluten free diet at the start of August and seen an improvement in my symptoms and general well being(Mainly the constipation, bod aches, and severe brain fog). i was diagnosed shortly after going gluten free that I was also Vitamin D deficient and B12 was "low-normal". I started to supplement both respectively and also saw an improvement in my general being. While there were definitive health issues along the way, I had started to feel better until a few weeks ago. I had gone home for thanksgiving break(being that I am a college student). My relatives, as loving as they are, had made a pudding. being that I had assumed for whatever reason that I could eat the damn pudding without asking, I had consumed it. i had later learned it had quite a bit of wafers infused into it(crushed), which I had also assumed, for whatever reason, was safe(never asked, dumb ol me). A day or two after consumption, I had noticed twitching in my right knee. Then it went to my left knee. Then both knees were hurting like crazy. Then it felt like the inside of my knee were in pain. 2 weeks later, they still are. Every morning waking up since then had been quite difficult since my joints are so stiff, and stay stiff throughout the day. Exercise had helped this condition, and helps reduce stiffness and pain for about a day, but if i do not continue to exercise the pain returns reallll fast.

 

The real scary thing is that my hands have also become quite painful. There are red rashes all over my knuckles and I am experiencing pain all in my fingers and wrist and hand. Along with knee pain(and big toe pain here and there as well, but that not as much). Its already been a little over 2 weeks since "reconsuming" a heavy amount of gluten. Is this normal for a gluten reaction to last this long? My pain is symmetrical and sounds an awful lot like Rheumatoid Arthritis. However, I tested negative for all rheumatoid tests back in June. I am seeing a doctor tommorow, but I am wondering from the forum, is it normal for a gluten reaction to last this long? 

 

Thank you all and best Regards, I appreciate any words of advice

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

It can take a bit of time for the antibody reaction to go away.  I get joint pain and stiffness also when glutened and find hot showers, gentle stretching and an anti-inflammatory help a great deal.  I am so sorry you are in so much discomfort and hope it is over soon. Please be careful and ask questions before consuming any foods you haven't prepared yourself. In addition make sure that your family knows they should all be tested for celiac even if they don't have any symptoms or don't think they do.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Well, it could be RA or celiac disease as celiac disease affects the joints as well.  But since your symptoms appeared suddenly after a gluten exposure, it is most likely celiac disease.   My glutenings last for months.  Really severe symptoms last a month or more.  Then I gauge my healing based on recovering from lactose intolerance (I hate losing my dairy!),  ceasing to lose weight or the final elimination of daily hives (that lasts about six months).  I am not sure the hives are celiac-related or just autoimmune triggered by glutenings.  I do have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis too.   None of my doctors (GI, PCP or Allergist) can say either as my antibodies for both Hashimoto’s and celiac disease are usually really elevated.  

I hope your recovery is much shorter than mine!   Since it hurts for me to eat anything, I usually make a big pot of stew or soup and eat that at every meal.  I find that eating anything after a glutening can hurt.  It is probably why I lose weight fast.  

DrubNonie Rookie
DrubNonie
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the replies! yeah, the doctor was also betting that it was likely a gluten reaction. Im currently on week 3 with legs improving a lot but hands getting much worse, so not sure where I stand haha. The doctor said if there isn't an improvement in 3 weeks to seek a rheumatologistt, so heres hoping xmas season ends well...

 

Thanks for all the replies!  

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
11 hours ago, DrubNonie said:

Thanks for the replies! yeah, the doctor was also betting that it was likely a gluten reaction. Im currently on week 3 with legs improving a lot but hands getting much worse, so not sure where I stand haha. The doctor said if there isn't an improvement in 3 weeks to seek a rheumatologistt, so heres hoping xmas season ends well...

 

Thanks for all the replies!  

There are a couple things that I find helpful for hand pain and stiffness. One is doing hot and cold hand soaks. 2 bowls one with water as warm as you can stand and the other with cold water with an ice cube or two. Dunk hands in each going from hot to cold every two minutes or so for a bit and finish with the hot. I also use a parrafin bath. With both I do gentle stretching afterwards.  I found this helpful when I was having issues with hands so stiff I couldn't close them and fingers that were triggering. maybe check with your doctor to see if he/she thinks it might help. 

Ennis-TX Grand Master
Ennis-TX
Posted
15 minutes ago, ravenwoodglass said:

There are a couple things that I find helpful for hand pain and stiffness. One is doing hot and cold hand soaks. 2 bowls one with water as warm as you can stand and the other with cold water with an ice cube or two. Dunk hands in each going from hot to cold every two minutes or so for a bit and finish with the hot. I also use a parrafin bath. With both I do gentle stretching afterwards.  I found this helpful when I was having issues with hands so stiff I couldn't close them and fingers that were triggering. maybe check with your doctor to see if he/she thinks it might help. 

My recent exposure left my joints swollen and stiff, the hot and cold is helping...did not think alternating like would work but it did.  >.< I will admit what happened once I confirm the culprit. >.> my paranoid self is a bit ashamed about it but a bit of a learning experience I guess.

DrubNonie Rookie
DrubNonie
Posted
  • Author

Hey guys...on like week 3 or 4 now I guess.

 

Hand redness has gotten much worse and so has hand pain. No swelling, just constant redness and pain in finger joints. Knees have very little pain now, and only kick in after LONG periods of inactivity (up to a few hours). The finals arent really helping either in this case. It kinda hurts to even hold a coffee or tea now. And type too. is this still typical this many weeks out of a gluten reaction? 

 

obviouslly a slightly stressed post, but was jw... 

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Ennis-TX Grand Master
Ennis-TX
Posted
13 minutes ago, DrubNonie said:

Hey guys...on like week 3 or 4 now I guess.

 

Hand redness has gotten much worse and so has hand pain. No swelling, just constant redness and pain in finger joints. Knees have very little pain now, and only kick in after LONG periods of inactivity (up to a few hours). The finals arent really helping either in this case. It kinda hurts to even hold a coffee or tea now. And type too. is this still typical this many weeks out of a gluten reaction? 

 

obviouslly a slightly stressed post, but was jw... 

I am on constant stuff for my joints, I take Joint support by jarrow for years now, to the point I just take them in my handful of pills twice a day. I also been using collagen supplement powder in my smoothies twice a day. I think my magnesium also helps. I will admit after a recent knee injury I had to take some extra turmeric daily to get the swelling down. Seems to have healed from grapefruit sized to normal and movable in 3 days.
Some foods, partially if I consume excessive sodium without something to flush me seems to cause a edema issue and joint swelling.
PS when it gets really cold I have to put on gloves around my house or my fingers all go trigger locky style when it gets too cold. (no heater so during the winter my inside sometimes hits 35-40F ish.)

DrubNonie Rookie
DrubNonie
Posted
  • Author

Woah, sounds like a rollercoaster for sure. Am i to assume this to be permanent then? 

Ennis-TX Grand Master
Ennis-TX
Posted
1 hour ago, DrubNonie said:

Woah, sounds like a rollercoaster for sure. Am i to assume this to be permanent then? 

Might be a food trigger, keep a food diary and try rotating up your diet. Remove common inflammatory foods, like dairy, and see if you notice a improvement. With only 3-4 weeks in your probably have a bit of leaky gut and some other food is triggering your extra inflammation. >.< I am a bit special with my joints i walk like 14miles a day average, and am trying to body build. SO I need a bit extra, I gave examples of what I use to keep my joints lubricated and working great to see if they might help you.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
9 hours ago, DrubNonie said:

 Am i to assume this to be permanent then? 

As Ennis mentioned do check for other intolerances. For myself soy protein or flours cause joint pain in addition to gluten. A food and symptom diary can be very helpful as can be the elimination and challenge.  Sometimes when we eliminate a food the reaction when added back in can be delayed for up to a week. So if you, for example, drop soy for a couple weeks to a month be sure to eat it in some form at least once a day for a week before you decide it is safe. Do make sure when adding back in that you are only eating stuff you know you tolerate so the reaction to the 'new' food is clearest.

I hope you get some relief soon.

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