Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Does Anyone Get Upper Back Spasms When Glutened?

Celiac15

By Celiac15
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Celiac15 Newbie
Celiac15
Posted

Hey there -

I am new to this site and it is so helpful. For years, I get upper back spasms when I am glutened and it lasts for about a week. It is so strange considering nobody else seems to have these symptoms. Of course, I get the headache, stomach bloating etc...but its the upper back spasms that are sometimes unbearable and make me so irritable. I use heat, ice, bengay, advil.

If anyone has this symptom, have you found anything that really works to alieve the symptoms? Thanks!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Cypressmyst Explorer
Cypressmyst
Posted

I get all over back spasms. In fact its funny that you should ask because I'm having them now. <_<

Got glutened by soap that was mislabeled at a friends house tonight. Didn't eat anything or touch my mouth afterwards but I've got all the symptoms now, achy back spasms, foggy brain, headaches, cold hands. :( Within minutes of washing them too.

But you know...gluten can't get through the skin or anything... :rolleyes:

I've found that eating an apple sometimes helps alleviate some of the symptoms. Apples are detoxing fruits.

lcarter Contributor
lcarter
Posted

Yes, I get spasms too, but more in the mid back area and usually after the bloating and diarrhea have subsided some. Interesting!

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

I get them too. What helps me is to keep my back really strong with exercise. Also to keep it well supported by strong stomach muscles, also exercise, and limber, stretching exercises. I get lazy and stop doing all that and then go back to the back problems when glutened.

cap6 Enthusiast
cap6
Posted

and here I thought I was nuts! I get mid back pain so bad when glutened. That was one of my big 3 glutened symptoms.

Lesx2 Newbie
Lesx2
Posted

and here I thought I was nuts! I get mid back pain so bad when glutened. That was one of my big 3 glutened symptoms.

lower back for me... Massage, lots of water, and heating pad help me

twe0708 Community Regular
twe0708
Posted

Hey there -

I am new to this site and it is so helpful. For years, I get upper back spasms when I am glutened and it lasts for about a week. It is so strange considering nobody else seems to have these symptoms. Of course, I get the headache, stomach bloating etc...but its the upper back spasms that are sometimes unbearable and make me so irritable. I use heat, ice, bengay, advil.

If anyone has this symptom, have you found anything that really works to alieve the symptoms? Thanks!

Not now but I used to before I went gluten-free.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Nadia2009 Enthusiast
Nadia2009
Posted

I get muscle spasms too and mostly in the back. I used to wonder what it was when I was still eating gluten. My mom has a lot of spasm like that but she isn't excited to go for the test. I think I will end up paying the test for my whole family if I want them tested :)

  • 2 years later...
diva2000 Newbie
diva2000
Posted

I had this happen to me really bad this week. I was getting back spasms for 3 days when I thought about taking an allergy pill. Just store brand chloriphenirine maleate, and it started relieving the spasms. I took it every 4 hours, and it got better and better. When I would forget, the back spasms would start up. After about 3 days of the allergy meds, it is getting to the point where I don't get the spasms when I forget a pill. Saved me big time! I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital.

  • 3 years later...
BeeGfree Newbie
BeeGfree
Posted

I am newly diagnosed as celiac and have gotten mid back spasms 3x in 2 weeks. The 1st time I ingested something I knew was gluten my mid back actually locked.  That was one of the reasons I went to my GP for it in the first place. This week I went to my chiro twice for it.  When I asked him how it could be connected to celiac he told me your duodenum which is right below your esophagus in the front has nerve endings that go to the vertebrae in the middle of your shoulder blades.  That was how I found out that the 2 are connected.  Chiropractic helps with immediate relief every time...

  • 1 year later...
LiseJoy Newbie
LiseJoy
Posted

Hello,

I am so relieved to be reading this post. I really thought I was losing my mind. I just had fried chicken from a take-out and pretty sure the batter had gluten. 5 minutes later I was in excruciating pain!! Still am:( 

I haven't been tested but amtrying to eat grain free as per recommendation of book: No Grain, No Pain.

Victoria1234 Experienced
Victoria1234
Posted
2 hours ago, LiseJoy said:

Hello,

I am so relieved to be reading this post. I really thought I was losing my mind. I just had fried chicken from a take-out and pretty sure the batter had gluten. 5 minutes later I was in excruciating pain!! Still am:( 

I haven't been tested but amtrying to eat grain free as per recommendation of book: No Grain, No Pain.

Unless the fried chicken says it's gluten-free and you know they fried it in oil that's only had gluten-free foods in it, you can rest assured your fried chicken had gluten.

welcome to the board!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. klmgarland
      - klmgarland replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      Thank you so very much Scott. Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful. If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to ...
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      1

      My only proof

      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Colleen H's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to ElenaM's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      I think I am gluten intolerant

      Based on what you've described, it is absolutely possible you are dealing with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS. Your situation is a classic p...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,906
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Dakota4
    Newest Member
    Dakota4
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • klmgarland
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By klmgarland · Posted

      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    • Scott Adams
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
    • Scott Adams
      My only proof

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating that the medical system often requires more contemporary, formal documentation to take a condition seriously. It's a common and deeply unfair situation for those who were diagnosed decades ago, before current record-keeping and testing were standard. You are not alone in this struggle.
    • Scott Adams
      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many people, it can be very effective at reducing inflammation and providing rapid relief from symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and bleeding, often serving as a short-term "rescue" treatment to bring a severe flare under control. However, experiences can vary, and its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific cause of the inflammation. It's also important to be aware that while it can work well, it comes with potential side effects, especially with longer-term use, so it's typically used for the shortest duration possible under close medical supervision. It's always best to discuss the potential benefits and risks specific to your situation with your gastroenterologist.
    • Scott Adams
      I think I am gluten intolerant

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Based on what you've described, it is absolutely possible you are dealing with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).  Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS.   Your situation is a classic presentation: a negative celiac panel but a clear, recurring pattern of symptoms triggered by gluten. The symptoms you listed—particularly the extreme fatigue, bloating, neurological-psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety, and even the skin manifestations like facial flushing—are all well-documented in research on NCGS. It's important to know that you are not alone in experiencing this specific combination of physical and emotional reactions. The only way to know for sure is to commit to a strict, 100% gluten-free diet under the guidance of a doctor or dietitian for a period of several weeks to see if your symptoms significantly improve. It is also crucial to rule out other potential causes, so discussing these symptoms with a gastroenterologist is a very important next step.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.