Stiff Joints

[kbtoyssni]

Hi everyone. I've been having a lot of problems with stiff and painful joints when I work out. One day it will be my knee that hurts, the next my elbows. It's like the pain just rotates from joint to joint. I do have occassions when it stays in one joint for a prolonged period of time, too. I'll admit that I do choose higher-impact sports like gymnastics, skating, snowboarding, racquetball, etc, but I don't think this should be happening. I've also had several injuries, but most of those were years ago and I've done loads of physical therapy since. My question is: how can I minimize this problem? I try to not do the same sport two days in a row and stay off a joint if it's really stiff. I also just started taking glucosamine and condritin (sp?) so we'll see if that helps. I'm just looking for some other suggestions of things I could try.

[NorthernElf]

I see you haven't gotten any results yet - I don't come here very often because it loads so slowly on my computer (dunno why - only forum to do so), but I can relate to what you are saying.

Are you strictly gluten-free ? I get joint pains when I gluten myself, and it gets worse the more gluten I ingest. Before I was stricter I had a lot of ankle issues and hip issues, sometimes my wrist, sometimes my lower back. The hip one seems to stick with me. I blamed it on my different activities too but since I am always pretty active, I have come to fix the blame on gluten...to the point where I start looking for gluten sources if I am feeling achy. It has to be since my activities to vary but I go through phases of pain - if I run or lift regularly but have pain sporadically - it must be the gluten, right ?

Do you get any tingling ? It used to freak me out when I had tingling sensations in my forehead (tight traps, shoulders). Sometimes I would get tingling in my wrist or down my leg...pretty sporadic but scary. I no longer get this.

Right now I have that hung over feeling since I had some Valentine's treats last night. Sinus headaches, fatigue, and my hip is killing me...and I haven't done any activity today yet. I did teach a cardio class yesterday but felt fine until last night so I'm sure it's gluten. I guess I'll just wait for it to "wear off".

[sunshinen]

Yep I get joint pain when I gluten myself. It usually lasts about a week.

But here are some non-celiac related tips:

Make sure you are doing things ergonomically correct so that you are not in positions that are more likely to stress your joints.

Some strength training may help take the stress of the joints.

Stretch. Lots.

Make sure you are not overdoing it with the exercise. Both impact and tight muscles can make joints hurt.

Maybe it's time to look for non-impact activities. I did a lot of high-impact sports through college, and now the cartilage is just worn out. I don't want to end up having to have surgery, so I moved on to low-impact activities and that has made a big difference.

[bluejeangirl]

I've dealt with inflammation through out my adult life that has lead me to going gluten free. That has been the biggest impact on eliminated pain and alot of symptoms I that blew my mind that it could ever be connected. Other things I've tried that helped we're:

Going on the Zone diet. That was the first thing I did back in the 90's. It helped and now I realized I was eliminating alot of carbs and eating more vegetables mainly salads with a good olive oil and vinegar.

Taking fish oil. The omega 3's. Walnuts and flaxseed oil or ground up are also high. This also just helps the mind and mood. Helps with people who suffer from depression. I changed all the oils I was eating cutting down on butter and eliminating margarine and most of the vegetable oils.

I stopped drinking sodas and sugar which is a big no no for joint pain suffers. I drink lots of water since dehydration will make you ache and feel tired. I started drinking a glass of wine because its full of anti oxidants and makes the blood platlets less sticky or thins the blood.

Some people have to eliminate all grains to feel better. There are good books on it, the one that comes to mind is The Inflammation Syndrome by Jack Challem. Another good one is Dangerous Grains by James Braly. Barry Sears has alot of books on inflammation and is the one who created the Zone diet for optimum health.

I have found all of these suggestions have helped me. There is also a time in my life I had to admit I can't do the things I used to do in my 20's and 30's. Anything that stresses the joints to much is something I had to deal with. Walking and swimming instead of high impact sports. Taking MSM helps restore to some point.

well thats all I could thing of for now.

Gail

[Cruiser Bob]

Hi everyone. I've been having a lot of problems with stiff and painful joints when I work out.

Hate to mention this one, because it sucks - at least for me. Try dropping nightshades out of your diet. Yes, that would be tomatoes, peppers, potato, eggplant, paprika, etc. It puts creative challenge back into eating, especially on the road, but my body hurts out 75% less. I learned about this from an article in Living Without. Their web page shows the cover and you could buy the magazine. I probably have that article still around somewhere also.

Bob

gluten-free 1999

[kbtoyssni]

Let's see, I'm going to try to reply to all of this. Haven't checked this thread in a while

NorthernElf - yes, I am strictly gluten-free. Joint pain from glutening also feels different than this pain. I don't get tingling ever.

sunshinen - I think I'm pretty ergonomically correct after years of PT for different joints. I do stretch a lot (it's the gymnast in me!) Some updated strength training for the joints might be in order, though. I'm certainly not ready to give up my high-impact gymnastics yet, but maybe my workouts on non-gymnastics days could be lower-impact.

bluejeangirl - I think I need to rethink my diet in general. I've done the Zone diet before (pre-gluten-free) and I did feel better (ok, course that was probably because for the most part I cut out the gluteny foods) so I should probably consider doing this again. I have been trying to cut down on the caffiene recently and doing pretty well with that.

Cruiser Bob - you're right, I don't want to hear a suggestion of no nightshades Hmmm, I do like my peppers and tomatoes. I guess a week or so without won't kill me just to figure out if that's the issue. Let me just finish up the fresh peppers and tomatoes I bought at the grocery store today... lol.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! You've definitely given me something to work on.

[cob]

Thank you, Lord, there are others just like me! I'm dealing with the same issue! It's my shoulder, both wrists and left hip. I'm 31 and do Tae Bo 5 days a week. I'm gluten-free, corn-free and egg-free...what more could I eliminate. And don't tell me tomatoes, etc. Isn't there any part of our bodies that could work properly? Not our intestines, not our joints...

I'm a little depressed with my DR. calling today to say that my x-rays and blood work were negative for anything joint related. Has anyone really noticed a difference by changing additional things in the diet? Can we really live well without additional foods? Have you noticed anything Stiff Joints? Please help!

Marie