Migratory Transient Osteoporosis (or Rmo)

[cir1842eal]

Before I was diagnosed and began the gluten-free diet, I had two separate bouts with an uncommon diseases known as transient osteoporosis. It usually hits pregnant women and middle-aged men, of which I am neither (I am a middle-aged female). It is a self-limiting disease in that it does go away, but, unfortunately, I had the migratory form which comes back. It is also known (more correctly in my thinking) as bone edema.

The disease progresses like this: a bone in a joint builds up fluid internally. This is the bone marrow edema stage. The marrow swells, exerting some extremely unpleasant pressure on the bone (i.e. pain). As the swelling increases, mobility in the joint decreases. After about 6-12 weeks, the bone begins to thin (the osteoporosis part) and the fluid leaks out. Then, over the next two years, the bone repairs itself.

There is no known cause and no real treatment (other than pain meds). Some researchers have tried those drugs like Fosamax and some have linked it to vitamin C deficiency. (I have had severe Vitamin D deficiencies in the past, but no documented probems with C).

I had this in one hip with extreme pain for about 3 months. Then, about 8 months later, it hit my other hip. It was shortly after that that I was diagnosed with celiac disease (should have known since my mother also has it). Anyway, all was well for the last year and a half. At Christmas I (stupidly) ate some mango licorice several times over a period of a week, then realized it had wheat syrup AND wheat flour in it. My ankle began hurting which is not an unusual gluten reaction for me, although it usually passes within 3 days. Not a lot of swelling, just pain. Unfortunately, this has gone on now for over 2 weeks and I am pretty sure it is my old friend the migratory transient osteoporosis.

My question to the rest of you is this- has anyone else had this problem and couldit possibly be related to celiac disease? I know a lot of you report joint pain with swelling, but this is severe joint pain with little swelling (visible) because the swelling is not in the tissue itself but in the bone. Anybody else out there with this phenomenon?

Thanks.