Can't Pinpoint What Is Causing My Joint Pain

[srall]

One of my symptoms that I manage through a gluten free diet is arthritis. I also do yoga to alleviate joint pain.

For the past week my pain has been pretty bad and I can't figure out what is triggering it. I don't think it's gluten because I'm not having GI issues and my head is clear. I am having some fatigue but honestly that could be the time of year with our days getting shorter and colder.

So, here's what I do know: A week ago I moved my daughter to a gluten/dairy free diet. Because I was trying to make gluten free meals she would eat, like pasta, rice dishes etc...I too have been eating a lot more grains than usual. Also, I bought her orange juice with calcium and almond milk (which is labeled gluten-free btw) for her cereal. So, I've also been drinking oj and almond milk and I do have a slight allergy to the almonds.

I have tried to return to a low grain diet, and drop anything with almonds and citrus. I also cut out coffee, which may be contributing to some of the fatigue. And I've taken a break from yoga and exercise just in case that was causing the pain. So this morning I woke up stiffer than ever. I can't tell if I'm still doing something to set off the arthritis or if it's just going to take a few days to get back to normal.

As one last note I did hear on the radio that MInnesota (where I am) just recorded it's second lowest barometric pressure ever (since they started keeping records). Could that explain this morning's aches and pains?

I really hate feeling this way? Could it be the additional grains (mostly rice)? Orange juice? Coffee? Any thoughts?

[bridgetm]

I have joint pain and some arthritis too. I know that I can attribute most of my left knee pain to 6 surgeries and the right is beat up from years of compensating. But some of the things that pop up don't seem related to that history like excessive nerve pain/discomfort. Sure, those surgeries did some damage, but not this much and not to the right knee. I cannot pin down whether there's a food correlation. So far it's just a frustrating nuisance so, honestly, I am not trying to hard to figure it out. I eat a lot of rice- and corn-based products so grain is a potential carpet, but living in a dorm it would be difficult to cut those things out.

I am also in Minnesota and have noticed changes in the past with pressure and humidity fluctuations. I have some arthritis in my fingers because I have jammed, sprained or broken at least 8 of them, some 2-5 times. They don't give me any problems until there's a change in weather. This week they are a little stiff.

I quit drinking coffee in the spring, but I did notice before I stopped that if I had an excessive amount of caffeine in one day (i.e. more than 2 cups of coffee, more than 16 oz or so of soda) I would feel a little sore and stiff that night and into the morning. I would suggest keeping an eye on your intake.

Have you tried Tylenol Arthritis? Sometimes a few tablets of that help get me moving in the morning.

[srall]

I have joint pain and some arthritis too. I know that I can attribute most of my left knee pain to 6 surgeries and the right is beat up from years of compensating. But some of the things that pop up don't seem related to that history like excessive nerve pain/discomfort. Sure, those surgeries did some damage, but not this much and not to the right knee. I cannot pin down whether there's a food correlation. So far it's just a frustrating nuisance so, honestly, I am not trying to hard to figure it out. I eat a lot of rice- and corn-based products so grain is a potential carpet, but living in a dorm it would be difficult to cut those things out.

I am also in Minnesota and have noticed changes in the past with pressure and humidity fluctuations. I have some arthritis in my fingers because I have jammed, sprained or broken at least 8 of them, some 2-5 times. They don't give me any problems until there's a change in weather. This week they are a little stiff.

I quit drinking coffee in the spring, but I did notice before I stopped that if I had an excessive amount of caffeine in one day (i.e. more than 2 cups of coffee, more than 16 oz or so of soda) I would feel a little sore and stiff that night and into the morning. I would suggest keeping an eye on your intake.

Have you tried Tylenol Arthritis? Sometimes a few tablets of that help get me moving in the morning.

I took some advil. I'm wondering if a course of advil over the next couple of days will get the inflammation down and keep it down. I don't want to rely on it permanently though. Since you're in MN too, are you feeling more achy today? I thought the low barometric pressure thing was very interesting.

[bridgetm]

I took some advil. I'm wondering if a course of advil over the next couple of days will get the inflammation down and keep it down. I don't want to rely on it permanently though. Since you're in MN too, are you feeling more achy today? I thought the low barometric pressure thing was very interesting.

Yes to the aches. Everything is a little sore today, like every muscle I've pulled in the last 6 months is coming back to haunt me.

[Mari]

Grains , nuts, coffee and many more foods are acid-forming foods and you may get considerable relief if you learn to balance your diet with alkaline forming foods. (also called acid ash and alkaline ash foods) Our bodies are normally slightly alkaline - the more acid we become the more problems are likely to develop. Rigid and cramping muscles, deposits of minerals in joints, decreasing kidney function are only a few. One test is to use a pH strip on your saliva first thing in the morning. One of my books says using 1 teaspoon baking soda in water just before going to bed will help but this is not a cure.

Be careful about using advil. My brother was taking too much and it clogged up his kidneys so he spent a month or so on dialysis to regain kidney function. I heard that other pain meds can cause this problem.

[Dixiebell]

As one last note I did hear on the radio that MInnesota (where I am) just recorded it's second lowest barometric pressure ever (since they started keeping records). Could that explain this morning's aches and pains?

I can definitely tell when the weather is changing and the barometric pressure drops. Sometimes my head will hurt, or my knees, feet/toes, hands/fingers. It is different everytime. Today it is my hands/fingers and feet/toes. Yesterday it was my knees.

[GFinDC]

I get joint pain (etc) from soy. So I don't eat soy. I don't know if it affects others like that though.

[tarnalberry]

And I've taken a break from yoga and exercise just in case that was causing the pain. So this morning I woke up stiffer than ever. I can't tell if I'm still doing something to set off the arthritis or if it's just going to take a few days to get back to normal.

Avoiding exercise is likely to make you stiffer, because you're not moving your body. Joints need movement to circulate synovial fluid. (Even non-synovial joints need movement to pump nutrients through the joint.) It could be that you need a different type of movement for now, however. (My two cents as a yoga teacher - any given yoga practice can be great for your body and mind. But exactly what your body and mind needs changes - from day to day, with the seasons, with other aspects of life. It could be that it's time to make some changes, if it's been a fairly static practice for a while.)

[srall]

I'm just giving up yoga for the week. I can't bear the thought of a life without yoga. I think you're right that the inertia is making this worse. Maybe just some walks for the next few days and head back to the studio next week.

[MelindaLee]

With eating more pasta, does that mean more tomatoes? I have heard of people having issues with arthritis when eating the "nightshade" vegetables. I do have arthritis pain this week, too. I know I was glutened over the weekend as have had GI issues the last couple of days. But since I am in Wisconsin your pressure issues are headed this way, so I'm not sure which is to blame.

[mushroom]

With eating more pasta, does that mean more tomatoes?

Only if you must have tomatoes with pasta. Pasta tastes perfectly good with pesto, with olive oil and garlic, with a stew type sauce over it, in mac and cheese. It is also possible to have pizza without tomato - I do all time. Again, pesto and parmesan, brie and cranberry, veggies and garlic w/ olive oil, shrimp and avocado, ....you get the idea.

Oh, and by the way, lasagna with bechamel sauce, spinach, mushrooms, onions and cheese is fab.

[georgie]

Have you checked for hyperparathyroidism? There is a good site at www.parathyroid.com that explains the symptoms. You especially need ionised calcium checked and PTH and ON THE SAME DAY.

After 4 years mine is nearly dxed. I have had terrible bone pain this year.

[cassP]

Have you checked for hyperparathyroidism? There is a good site at www.parathyroid.com that explains the symptoms. You especially need ionised calcium checked and PTH and ON THE SAME DAY.

After 4 years mine is nearly dxed. I have had terrible bone pain this year.

was reading your signature- and wanted to know what your symptoms for adrenal fatigue were? and what kind of treatment you got... i have Celiac, & just got dx w/ Hypothyroid (havent had hashi test yet), just started Synthroid... but i am worried i may also have adrenal issues- only because my thyroid i think has been hypo since 2006 & im always hot & anxious... (never cold)

[dilettantesteph]

From the perspective of someone who is very sensitive to low levels of cc, I would say that grains, coffee and O.J. could all be causing you problems. I don't drink OJ, coffee, I wash the beans first, grains I sort and wash. Why don't you try cutting them all out for a couple of weeks and then adding them back one a week and see what happens.

[GlutenFreeManna]

I get joint pain (etc) from soy. So I don't eat soy. I don't know if it affects others like that though.

Soy gives me joint pain as well. OP should check to see if the gluten-free items have soy in them. Many gluten-free subs do use soy.