Shoulder/neck/nerve/tendon Pain

[tbritt]

I have been reading this message board for a little more than a week. I suspect that I have celiac and was just screened in a blood test by my new rheumatologist.

I have been suffering from strange illness that have come and gone all my life:

Age 7 - Anemia

Age 12 - Dizzy Spells

Age 13 - Seizures

Age 16 - Psoriasis/Eczema so bad it would crack and bleed

Age 17 - Low blood sugar

Age 18 - Acid Reflux/Ulcers/Vomiting

Age 20 - Low Thyroid

Age 21 - Epilepsy

Age 23 - Migraines

Age 25 - Good health but feeling tired all the time

Age 30 - Nausea, general malaise, shoulder and neck pain so bad after a viral infection that I can't even cope with it.

I have been in and out of the doctor this year for shoulder pain. I keep telling them I have a nausea all the time, but they won't listen. Because I am a violinist, they kept telling me that I just overdid it. The physical therapy doesn't seem to help. My body keeps telling me it's something more. They told me I had mono. I still think it's something more.

I have started the gluten free diet and my neck no longer feels as though something is attacking me. Swelling in my arm and shoulder have gone down to almost manageable.

If you have hope or insight, please share it with me. Basically, I am needing someone to tell me I can get better. I have so much hope that the solution could be in sight. How long might it take to get better? Has anyone else had shoulder and neck pain that eventually cleared. Do you think I might be better in a year? Six months? I am hoping that I will stop hurting so I can have my life back. (If I am a celiac at all.)

[Looking for answers]

Hi,

I was also try cutting out other inflammatory foods such as soy, dairy and limited sugar intake until you begin to feel better. Are you taking a good multi vitamin? Low levels of some minerals and vitamins (such as B vitamins) can lead to this kind of pain. I take a liquid multi (isotonix) that has helped greatly. I also suffered from siatic pain in my 20's that is completely gone now.

[tbritt]

The other weird thing about my condition of shoulder pain is that it has responded positively to an antibiotic (more than once). Sounds strange, but basically, I feel better (70 percent) when I took this antibiotic, but it gets worse again when I go off of it. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE THAT I HAVE AN INFECTION, THE DOCTOR JUST TRIED THE ANTIBIOTIC BECAUSE HE COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE.

Both times, the arm would swell when I would go off the antibiotic. But now that I'm off gluten, the swelling is not as much. Has anyone had experience of antibiotics being used as an anti-inflammatory for pain and swelling in your joints?

[schwzgrp]

tbritt:

I read your posts regarding your symptoms and pain in shoulder and neck. I think you are on the right track of going gluten-free. I suggest a really good Dr that is well versed in gluten-free issues, as there are ALWAYS underlying issues with gluten intolerance that need to be addressed at the same time. I have had all the symptoms you describe above and many more for 45 years. I'm day 31 of gluten-free. My arm/shoulder/neck pain started dissappearing slowly and continues to dissappear. I'm also on lots of supplements which are helping address my other problems as well. It can be a slow process and it has to be a faithful project or you won't get better. Do your homework, and educate yourself.

This forum and this website are handy tools and certainly great re-enforcement. Hang in there and good luck.