Arthritis...

[num1habsfan]

I know I've complained about my arthritis before, but have any of you noticed it getting worse/more sensative the more you go gluten-free?? Now its not just one area that catches me when it snows (or in today's case, rains), it gets me all over, to the point where I almost want to wrap everything up. My ankle is so bad I can barely walk, and actually put a tensor wrap around it because when i walk it feels like my ankle's gonna just snap off!

Or do you guys know of any other stomach related diseases that flares up arthritis??

Do you know how to help it WITHOUT taking tylenol? (because Its getting the point I'm tempted to)

~ lisa ~

[CarlaB]

Or do you guys know of any other stomach related diseases that flares up arthritis??

Lyme Disease can cause both GI symptoms and arthritis. Lyme arthritis is migratory ... one day one joint might hurt, but another day it may be another joint. My left knee usually bothers me, but sometimes my thumbs do.

Lyme can also cause rashes and many other symptoms.

I'm not saying you have it , but it IS another disease that affects the stomach and flares up arthritis. Interestingly enough, my Lyme doc tests everyone for celiac because the two diseases have such similar symptoms. Gluten intolerance is a common topic at Lymenet ... it seems many of us with Lyme also are gluten intolerant.

[Jestgar]

If it's RA, which is an inflammatory reaction, any inflammation could make it worse. Tylenol will help with the pain, but not the inflammation. Ibuprofen or naproxen will help with both pain and inflammation as will aspirin.

I remember something about parsley being a mild anti-inflammatory, but I don't know any specifics.

Acupuncture is supposed to help with pain, but I don't know if it works with arthritic pain.

[Nancym]

Well, gluten doesn't do anything to relieve arthritis pain, so I think you can get rid of that association right there.

Have you seen a rhuematologist? Mine dx'd me with ankylosing spondylitis and the treatment seems to be helping a lot. A paleo diet is helping too. I think there's other things than gluten that can cause arthritis to flare. Now my AS is much better but the osteoarthritis is still progressing. :\

[num1habsfan]

If it's RA, which is an inflammatory reaction, any inflammation could make it worse. Tylenol will help with the pain, but not the inflammation. Ibuprofen or naproxen will help with both pain and inflammation as will aspirin.

Maybe it is RA? I had in an arthritis magazine that like 30% of people with RA in a study had Celiac. But theres gotta be something thats making it so much worse than it usually is..and its driving me crazy, because nobody ever believes a 22 year old could have it...

~ lisa ~

[Jestgar]

Well, if I ever find a genie in a lamp I'm gonna wish for a pain-free-box so that everyone I know can go into it for a while and come out with no owies whatsoever.

[num1habsfan]

Well, if I ever find a genie in a lamp I'm gonna wish for a pain-free-box so that everyone I know can go into it for a while and come out with no owies whatsoever.

Now wouldnt that be nice

~ lisa ~

[lonewolf]

Lisa, I see that you have several food intolerances in addition to gluten. Are you completely off dairy, eggs, soy and the nightshade vegetables? I had horrible arthritis at age 32, which was still way too young and I went off all of those foods (and avoided red meat too), heck I basically ate fish, rice, some fruits and some vegetables and sunflower seeds for a year. The arthritis went away completely. I will get joint pain if I try to eat dairy foods (except small amounts of butter or raw goat cheese) or soy even now. Something to think about...

[num1habsfan]

Lisa, I see that you have several food intolerances in addition to gluten. Are you completely off dairy, eggs, soy and the nightshade vegetables? I had horrible arthritis at age 32, which was still way too young and I went off all of those foods (and avoided red meat too), heck I basically ate fish, rice, some fruits and some vegetables and sunflower seeds for a year. The arthritis went away completely. I will get joint pain if I try to eat dairy foods (except small amounts of butter or raw goat cheese) or soy even now. Something to think about...

I'm pretty sure its just the weather, because it doesnt act up unless its storming, weather is changing, or i strain the parts of my body i've previously injured. I'm just wondering why its gotten so much more severe. I still have my ankle with a tensor wrap around it, and if i had another one handy i'd be wrapping my wrist, too. gotta re-wrap ankle before I walk a mile from school, thats for sure

~ Lisa ~

[Flor]

My joint pain (in my case, mostly hips) started right when my gut symptoms started and they all feel connected to me -- there's an inflammatory process going on. Leaky gut? I also at the same time got some recurring skin inflammations -- gross, like inside my nostrils and scalp.

I know a number of folks who manage their joint pain entirely by diet -- no dairy mainly. Is it possible that you could have an inflammatory process going on that is made worse by weather changing -- so it rises to the level of pain for you -- but that is going on all the time at a lower level?

I've started taking a supplement called Zyflamend that's an herbal anti-inflammatory -- too soon to tell if it's helpful.

Isn't there a blood test for detecting system-wide inflammation? I've been meaning to ask my internist about it.

And has anyone had success with acupuncture? I'm going to one today to see what she says about this joint inflammation/gut problem thing. Chinese medicine doctors tend to see these things as all connected.

[num1habsfan]

My joint pain (in my case, mostly hips) started right when my gut symptoms started and they all feel connected to me -- there's an inflammatory process going on. Leaky gut? I also at the same time got some recurring skin inflammations -- gross, like inside my nostrils and scalp.

So you think if i have stomach problems acting up badly(feel on fire), thats connected to the arthritis/joint pain?

~ Lisa ~

[CarlaB]

Lisa, it could be any number of things -- celiac, RA, Lyme, etc. It's a good idea to try to find out what's causing it before you try to treat it. For example, the treatment for RA is steroids, but steroids will make a Lyme infection worse. Many people with Lyme are mis-diagnosed with RA because RA is a clinical diagnosis (so is Lyme).

It can be connected to celiac disease. Have you gotten your test results back yet?

[Ann1231]

Lisa, it could be any number of things -- celiac, RA, Lyme, etc. It's a good idea to try to find out what's causing it before you try to treat it. For example, the treatment for RA is steroids, but steroids will make a Lyme infection worse. Many people with Lyme are mis-diagnosed with RA because RA is a clinical diagnosis (so is Lyme).

It can be connected to celiac disease. Have you gotten your test results back yet?

I have RA and I'm not on steroids. I'm on methotrexate and plaquenil. I've been diagnosed RA for over 2 years now. Steroids are not used to TREAT RA, but are used during flares or at initial diagnosis to reduce inflammation and the pain associated with it. RA is treated with DMARDS, biologics, etc.

My arthritis is MUCH better on gluten free. I also avoid red meat and some dairy. Cheese seems to bother my fibromyalgia, don't know why but it does. I still have weather or stress related flares but not as badly as I used to.

[Rusla]

There is an ointment that a doctor has to prescribe and you apply it to the affected part. Soon as I dig mine out I will send you the name. It manages to alleviate the pain for awhile. I use it on my instep and my ankles.