Anyone Else Have Only This Symptom?

[Molly229]

I have bone pain. It started a couple of years ago and has progressively gotten worse. This winter (I live in Canada) has been the worst yet. Moreso in my hands than anything else, although my shoulders and knees to hurt at times as well as burning in my right elbow.

I am allergic to wheat and barley, at least I was at 28 yrs of age (I'm now 44). I have always kept eating wheat although limited to some degree because it was a minimal reaction and taken an allergy pill daily for years.

I am thinking my bone pain could be a wheat/gluten intolerance. I have none of the other symptoms I've read about.

I have elevated arthritis levels for 2 years now, so my Dr. assumes I have rheaumatoid arthritis. I saw an arthritis specialist and based on my symptoms and very small nodules just starting to form on my finger joints, she didn't think I had it.

So...that's my story. I went wheat/gluten free 2 days ago and am doing a 35 day test and then will slowly put it back in my diet to see if it makes a difference. I'm keeping a daily journal of my pain factors.

[lonewolf]

My first noticable symptom was arthritis - hands, shoulders, hips and feet. It got REALLY bad and I responded well to gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and soy-free. (Funny thing though - I realized that I did have other symptoms that I hadn't paid attention to that went away too.) I'm now arthritis free!

If I were you I'd try more than 5 weeks. And you might want to try eliminating dairy and soy too, then add them back slowly while staying gluten-free. People I've met/corresponded with who have struggled with arthritis have almost all had trouble with dairy and soy too.

[lorka150]

have the doctors mentioned fibromyalgia? that is the main symptom.

[The One]

First of all, very bad choice to stay on gluten. The amount of gluten you eat does not make a difference, gluten is gluten and it is a poison for those who are sensitive to it, so you have been poisoning yourself for years, I assume it is full blown celiac by now considering you have reumathoid arthritis which is linked to celiac.

Second of all, I do not recommend a gluten challenge, at least not a long one, if you're going to be gluten free for 5 weeks you will notice change, eat gluten again for a few days and that's it, if you stop eating gluten and then introduce it back and keep eating it there are much higher chances for cancer and a whole lot of other things like more autoimmune diseases, etc.

[Molly229]

Thank you for your input. This is all so new to me. Is gluten related to cancer and autoimmune deficiencies? Are you suggesting that I go off gluten forever..... if I do that, how will I know if this is what is making me ache so much in my bones?

Fibromyalga (sp?) has been ruled out.

I can due without gluten and wheat, but to go without dairy would be extremely difficult..... I really really like yogurt and cheese.

I will first start with the gluten.....

Thank you once again....

[wowzer]

Maybe going gluten free will solve your pain problem. If it does why eat gluten?

[lonewolf]

Thank you for your input. This is all so new to me. Is gluten related to cancer and autoimmune deficiencies? Are you suggesting that I go off gluten forever..... if I do that, how will I know if this is what is making me ache so much in my bones?

Going off gluten forever isn't that bad, especially when you feel good and are pain free! Same can be said about dairy.

If you go off gluten for an extended period of time (at least two months, not just 5 weeks) you should be able to see a difference if it's what is causing your problems. I would suggest going off dairy for at least a few weeks too and then challenge that first. If you feel better off these, then wouldn't that at least suggest that they are causing pain? The best thing to do is just try it - you can always challenge later if you need proof.

[CarlaB]

It's easy to try the gluten-free diet. I would try it for a few months. If the pain doesn't get better or if it gets worse, I would look for something else. You won't know till you try.

People with arthritis symptoms seem to have a problem with nightshades, too -- eggplant, potatoes, etc.

The key is, if it's the gluten causing it, you will get better. Pain like that can be caused by a number of things. RA, as you've already mentioned, celiac, gluten intolerance, Lyme Disease (I get joint pain in my shoulders, knees and hands from this), etc.

I would give the diet a try.