Growing Pains And Joint Pain In Young Children

[MRM]

my son has been having some joint and muscle pain in his legs. it has steadily become more uncomfortable along with his GI issues. i know joint pains and inflammation can be common in adults with celiac disease or gluten intolerance but i wasn't sure if it effected children the same. he's been off gluten for almost two weeks but still complaining of pain. i'm wondering how much of it is gluten related and how much is normal "growing pains" or the like.

[Zane]

I am walking in your shoes right now. My 9 year-old boy has been complaining of aches in his legs, elbows and ribs for a couple of years. He also has severe tingling/itching in his fingers and toes. gluten-free for about a month now, he doesn't have headaches or stomach pains anymore, the aches in his bones are diminishing, his fingers and toes are still an issue though there has been a slight improvement. I've read that as the intestines heal after stopping gluten; some symptoms take months to a couple of years to go away. Hang in there, hopefully your son will have a speedy recovery. I urge anyone in the forum here who's had children who've been gluten-free for a few years to please share your stories with us. How long did it take for the children to get better? Anyone had to deal with body aches and itching/tingling in fingers and toes?

[buffettbride]

One of my daughter's primary symptoms were awful growing pains in her legs and hips. It flares up when she is glutened. It cleared up completely when she went gluten free. She would wake up nights screaming and crying because her legs hurt so bad. It's one of those things as a parent you feel so awful about because there is so little you can do. Its one symptom I was glad to see go!

[buffettbride]

One of my daughter's primary symptoms were awful growing pains in her legs and hips. It flares up when she is glutened. It cleared up completely when she went gluten free. She would wake up nights screaming and crying because her legs hurt so bad. It's one of those things as a parent you feel so awful about because there is so little you can do. Its one symptom I was glad to see go!

I forgot to add that it took about 6 months for the pains to go away. While her tummy symptoms cleared up immediately with the help of gluten free, the itchies and rash and tinglies and "growing pains" took a bit longer.

[Zane]

I forgot to add that it took about 6 months for the pains to go away. While her tummy symptoms cleared up immediately with the help of gluten free, the itchies and rash and tinglies and "growing pains" took a bit longer.

Thank you so much for replying, I am truly glad to hear that your daughter has completely recovered, I can't wait til we get there. Last night I was begging for these awful pains to leave my son's body and be transported to me, it's extremely hard to watch your child suffer and it's becoming umbearable. It's reassuring to know it could all go away one day, thanks again.

[DanAbimytwomiracles]

I would also double and triple check the products you're using, as it might be that there is still some gluten. For my daughter, she had similar issues with pains and they were always a sign of being glutened.

[OBXMom]

My son did have joint and bone pain, and it took about two years of gluten free living for it to stop. I kept wondering if he could have another autoimmune problem, it was scary. I wonder in his case if it was partially the rapid bone growth that caused the problem. He was a small, slow grower and immediately began to grow faster when he went gluten free. One year after diagnosis he pulverized an arm doing just normal kid running around, and it was because the rapid growth had caused a cyst to develop in his bone. (It was a horrible day before we learned from the specialist that the cyst was benign, but that is another story.) Apparently cyst development in bones, especially during periods of rapid growth, are not at all uncommon, but you normally do not find out about them unless an accident causes the bone to break.

My son is just now up to a normal stamina, two and a half years in. My husband and I look at each other and smile all the time when he talks about wanting to be an incredible athlete, because those were not dreams he could have dreamed before. He is not the most talented athlete on his team, but years of pent up desire bursts out of him everytime he plays, and it is wonderful to see. I know lots of kids bounce back much more quickly, but for parents who think it isn't happening quickly enough, I encourage you not to give up hope. It can definitely still happen.

[ryebaby0]

My son was dx 6+ years ago, and was originally diagnosed with juvenile rhematoid arthritis, his joint symptoms were so bad. He would often wake with leg pain and tingly limbs. Now, he is a normal, healthy, somewhat skinny teenager. It might be helpful to know your son's levels of zinc and potassium-- sometimes they need extra early on. Make certain he takes a good multi, stays well hydrated too. Time is your ally here, and you have every reason to believe these symptoms will subside in the next year. (Which seems like forever, I know. But it's not permanent)

[Zane]

Thank you all for the encouragement and positive stories, it really really means a lot.

[MRM]

Thank you all for the encouragement and positive stories, it really really means a lot.

i'll second that.