Joint Pain

[HeatherR]

My son has severe joint pain. Does anyone else deal with this? He is 12, and is allergic to ibuprofin, Naproxin, basically the meds they use to help with this. I give him acetomenephin (sp?) but it only helps so much.

Right now both of his heels are hurting him, and it makes it difficult to walk. Any suggestions?

Is this something that will stay forever?

He has had the celiac panel, and has the gene. He's been put back on wheat so they can do the biopsy. He'd been off wheat for 2 1/2 years before this, but still had the joint pain.

I'm waiting for my results, but I'm afraid that with all the symptoms I've had forever, I have celiac also.

I've been going to neurologists for years, and was diagnosed with ms, then undiagnosed.

I'm just worried that some of the problems will be forever.

Anyone dealing with joint pain?

Thanks

HeatherR

[2kids4me]

My son used to have really bad joint pain but it went away after going gluten-free. He does get heel pain because he has short achillies tendons and also walks toed out.

These are some links you may find useful:

Open Original Shared Link

Evaluation of the Acutely Limping Child

ARABELLA I. LEET, M.D., and

DAVID L. SKAGGS, M.D.

University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

A limp may be defined as any asymmetric deviation from a normal gait pattern. The differential diagnosis of a limp includes trauma, infection, neoplasia and inflammatory, congenital, neuromuscular or developmental disorders. Initially, a broad differential diagnosis should be considered to avoid overlooking less common conditions such as diskitis or psoas abscess. In any patient with a complaint of knee or thigh pain, an underlying hip condition should be considered. The patient's age can further narrow the differential diagnosis, because certain disease entities are age-specific. Vigilance is warranted in conditions requiring emergent treatment such as septic hip. The challenge to the family physician is to identify the cause of the limp and determine if further observation or immediate diagnostic work-up is indicated. (Am Fam Physician 2000;61:1011-8.)

A diagnosis of "growing pains" must meet three criteria: (1) the leg pain is bilateral; (2) the pain occurs only at night; and (3) the patient has no limp, pain or symptoms during the day.1 To inaccurately diagnose a limping child with "growing pains" can be dangerous, as the physician risks missing the underlying pathology. However, if a child does fit the criteria for growing pains, the parents should be reassured that this is a benign, self-limited process that occurs for unknown reasons.

and one on heel pain in children:

Open Original Shared Link

[lonewolf]

I agree that you should continue to consult his pediatrician about this. I had horrible arthritis that went away when I eliminated several foods, not just gluten. Even now, almost 10 years after the worst of the joint pain stopped, I will get achy joints if I eat any significant amount of soy or dairy. I never cheat with gluten, so I don't know what would happen at this point. I avoid eggs too, but am not sure that they aggravate my joints.

When I first discovered that food was an issue, I eliminated everything but fish, rice, most fruits, most vegetables and sunflower seeds. This was pretty dramatic, but the rheumatologists wanted me to take nasty medications and still said I'd be in and out of a wheelchair for life. After a year of eating like this I was completely joint-pain free. I'm not saying that you should do this with your son, but just pointing out that foods other than gluten can cause joint pain.

Could you do some experimenting, letting his doctor know what you're trying? See if dairy-free/soy-free makes a difference. Also, many people have discovered that the nightshade family can cause/worsen joint pain. Try eliminating tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant.

The good thing about eliminating foods is that it can't cause side-effects and it doesn't just mask symptoms.

[Nancym]

You should see a rhuematologist. The autoimmune disease I have, Akylosing Spondylitis, shows up in young men very early. It attacks the joints. Although it usually starts in the lower back. Not that he has it, but a rheumy could do the tests.

[Ursa Major]

I had excruciating joint pain from the age of three, even though doctors could never find anything wrong. Your son's allergies to Ibuprofin etc. point towards a possible salicylate intolerance (does Aspirin help him, or does it make him worse?). I find that foods high in salicylates will make my muscles and tendons ache terribly. But especially lectins (which include dairy, eggs, all grains incl. rice and corn, legumes incl. peanuts and soy, and the nightshades) will cause debilitating joint and bone pains, backaches and buckling of my knees and ankles.

I understand that it would be hard to take all those foods away from him. But I would gladly have eaten a restricted diet at your son's age, if I could have been painfree.

I had to live with those awful, ever worsening pains until last year, for fifty years (I think my mother said that I started having awful 'growing pains' at the age of three, and even though I've obviously stopped growing a long time ago, they never stopped). When I figured out what I am intolerant to (with an elimination diet) and stopped eating those foods, I was able to stop taking all painkillers (I had taken codeine 24/7 for five years by then).

If your son had been off wheat, did he still eat other gluten grains, like rye and barley? If he did, he was never gluten-free, and wouldn't have gotten better if celiac disease is the cause of his pain. If he really was gluten-free, not just wheat free, then it isn't likely the biopsy will show anything, as it takes at least six months to a year to damage the villi enough for a positive biopsy.

On the other hand, if the celiac disease panel was positive, why put him through more pain by making him eat what is poisoning him? The diet trial is a valid diagnostive tool, too, and would be preferable. Knowing how much pain I was in when I was your son's age, I have my doubts that anything short of heavy duty painkillers like codeine or morphine would actually relieve his pain. You don't want to go there. I had many nights of writhing in pain as a child, and no painkillers would help. I don't wish that on any child, it's no way to spend your youth, especially if it is easily preventable.

[HeatherR]

Thanks so much for your replies! Yes, my son is off all gluten, and has been for years. He is also off all dairy.

If we had to give up rice and potatoes we'd be sunk!

We see the g.i. specialist next week and I am going to ask her about the biopsy. I know that six weeks of eating gluten will not show anything on the biopsy.

I just feel so bad for him and since I have the same pain, ( I can take the other meds) I want to find out what's going on.

Thanks for your help. It is much appreciated!

HeatherR

[TCA]

I went gluten-free while nursing my celiac daughter and after a few months noticed that the joint pains I had been having my whole life were gone for the first time EVER!!!! If your son's joint pain hasn't improved, though, that might not be his issue. Are you gluten-free too? If so, did it improve your pain? Whatever's going on with you may lead to clues about him. That's what's happeded with my kids and me.

[RiceGuy]

I recently was experiencing debilitating pain. I found out it was due to nightshades, such as potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, etc. I didn't relish the idea of giving up potatoes, and I frequently enjoyed all those aforementioned items. But the pain subsided and thankfully has not returned except when I had some potatoes as a test to see what would happen. Sure enough it put me in distress, so that was it.

The pains took a couple of weeks to wain to a minimal level. Now I just have to heal all the nerve and muscle damage that was done, which I think I'm finally figuring out how to do more effectively.

I'm hopeful that it won't be a permanent exclusion from my diet. For a replacement, I have been looking into a root called 'dasheen', also referred to as 'taro'. It is apparently much like a potato, but not in the nightshade family. The texture is very similar from what I've read, and the taste is described as being somewhere between a potato and a chestnut. Here's a page on it: Open Original Shared Link

And don't overlook sweet potatoes/yams, various squashes, etc. Ever have stuffed zucchini? Spaghetti squash is tasty too, though I seldom bother to prepare it. Now if only there was a replacement for tomatoes, I might have a chance at a nightshade-free pizza without losing the sauce.

Anyway, this may not apply to your son, but it can't hurt to give it a try either.