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Abdominal muscle pain caused by Celiac?

MikeMartin
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MikeMartin Newbie
MikeMartin
Posted

Hello,

First time post here and I'm trying to diagnose why I'm having so much off and on abdominal muscle pain. It started specifically on my right side and if I would move or twist a certain way, it would be like a sharp knife stabbed me. This started a few years ago and was only very occasional. I chalked it up to twisting wrong and pulling some muscle because the pain would instantly go away.

Then I'd say a year or so ago, my muscles would be very stiff and I'd be in some pain when first getting up from bed or a chair. After a few minutes, things would stretch out and I'd feel ok. But if I sat down again for even 5 minutes, it would start all over. My doctor said it's just because I'm getting older (I'm 55).

Then about 6 months ago, the sharp stabbing pain and muscle aches became more frequent. I've been going to a chiropractor thinking it's pinched nerves or something wrong with my spine. X-Rays showed, however, that my spinal is fine, though. Just slight arthritis which he said was no big deal. He showed me some stretching exercises and I joined a gym to help strengthen the muscles. It seemed to help at the time, but once I'm done, I'm right back where I started with the pain.

My doctor gave me a steroid pack which helped...until they were done. Then the pain came back. If I take ibuprophen, it helps too, but because of the heart medication I'm on, I'm not supposed to take it.  So there's some sort of inflammation going on...I just don't know why.

Since stretching, exercising, massages, and hot baths only temporarily work (I'm talking 30 minutes or so), I'm thinking it could be either the heart medication that I'm on (it's been 8 years now) or something else.  Which lead me to here.

So my question to you Celiac experts is:

Can celiac disease cause abdominal muscle pain in the front, sides and back (sometimes all at once and sometimes at different times)? I know it's muscles because it only hurts when I move. I don't have any bloating, or stomach pain, or intestinal pain or anything like that. I can still eat like a pig with no issues. It's just muscle pain that makes me feel like I've played an entire game of football and everyone went for my sides, back, and gut. Legs and arms are fine. It's just the abdomen area.

I'm waiting to get an MRI hopefully this week, but I figured I'd see what you all had to say as well.

Sorry for the long post especially since it's my first one. I'm just trying to be a detective and figure this out how to make this pain go away quickly.

Thanks.

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Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

Celiac disease can cause a large variety of symptoms that can be side-effects of the reduced ability of your intestines to absorb essential vitamins and minerals from your foods. Muscle cramps and pain including Charlie horses in your legs and other areas can be symptoms.

Do you have celiac disease, or have you ever been tested for it? It might be with getting a blood screening for it if you haven't done so already. Just be sure to keep eating gluten daily if you plan to get tested for celiac disease.

The MRI is also a good idea so that your doctor can rule out other possible issues like a hernia or kidney stones (they can cause serious pain that feel like it's back pain). Given what you described it's probably also a good idea for your doctor to rule out a heart condition as well.

Have you noticed any association with the pain and the foods you are eating? 

MikeMartin Newbie
MikeMartin
Posted
  • Author
52 minutes ago, Scott Adams said:

Celiac disease can cause a large variety of symptoms that can be side-effects of the reduced ability of your intestines to absorb essential vitamins and minerals from your foods. Muscle cramps and pain including Charlie horses in your legs and other areas can be symptoms.

Do you have celiac disease, or have you ever been tested for it? It might be with getting a blood screening for it if you haven't done so already. Just be sure to keep eating gluten daily if you plan to get tested for celiac disease.

The MRI is also a good idea so that your doctor can rule out other possible issues like a hernia or kidney stones (they can cause serious pain that feel like it's back pain). Given what you described it's probably also a good idea for your doctor to rule out a heart condition as well.

Have you noticed any association with the pain and the foods you are eating? 

Thanks for the fast response. To answer your question, no. I've never had a celiac test and nobody in my family (as far as I know) has the disease either. Depending on what the MRI shows (or doesn't show), I'll see if I can get a blood test. Do I just ask for a celiac blood test, or is it something specific?

I did have a mild heart attack about 8 years ago and had a stent put in one of my heart's arteries. It was 80% blocked, yet the rest were perfectly fine. I guess all the bad stuff I ate early on in life targeted that one artery. But because of it, I'm on 5 different medications now (I hate that) and one of them is a blood thinner. And because of that, I can't take ibuprofen because it can also thin your blood. Yet, that's really the only "over the counter" medication to help with inflammation and the pain I have. 

And also because of these 5 stupid medications, I'm always having to check if certain vitamins or foods (such as turmeric) will cause side affects (some reports say turmeric thins blood and others say it doesn't....so who knows).

Thanks again for your fast response. I just hope my recovery is just as fast :)

Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

Yes, you would just ask for a celiac disease blood test. To me your symptoms are not likely to be caused by celiac disease, but it is a small possibility. 

I think a bigger possibility is that if you are taking statins for your heart condition muscle pain and weakness is a known side-effect, so be sure to discuss this with your doctor as well. 

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