progressive ligament and tendon weakness and pain.

I also feel like there is something wrong with my joints. I have also seen a rheumatologist and they found nothing.

Do you feel that they tear easily? My knees,shoulders and back hurt all the time and I have had two surgeries on my shoulders which have already torn again. I am 24 yet I feel that the ligaments in my joints are deteriorating. I used to be a personal trainer and was very active but now my knees hurt that much that I can hardly walk sometimes.

Hi. I had something similar several years ago, where joints in my knees, hands, fingers, wrists - even my jaw - would hurt unbearably for about 36 hours and be red and inflamed, then ease - but then another joint would flare up. I saw naturopaths and rheumatologists with no success, and not once did anyone talk about my diet. The naturopath gave me some concoction that made my symptoms worse to the point where I had to crawl on hands on knees as I couldn’t straighten my legs to stand up. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

After about 18 month of self-monitoring I realised that it was to do with my diet, and eventually worked out that I was gluten intolerant! Joint pain (involving ligaments / tendons) is a know but not common symptom of coeliac disease and so is often overlooked.  In my case, my symptoms were delayed about 8 hours, so I would eat gluten for breakfast but the symptoms wouldn’t occur until that evening, so it made it hard to be really sure what the cause was.

To make it more complicated, the joint that was affected was one that had recently been very slightly strained – so often my symptoms would occur on a Wednesday night after I had done weightlifting in the morning and then eaten toast afterwards.

It took me about 4 more years to be really sure that gluten is the problem. I believe that Im coeliac, not just gluten intolerant, as I have the gene but have never had a bowel biopsy –I don’t need a definite diagnoses badly enough to eat gluten for the required 6 weeks in order to damage my gut enough for the test to be conclusive.  

If you suspect that this may be the problem, try eliminating gluten (which is hard to do as its virtually everything that comes out of a packet, tin, jar or sachet) and take anti-inflammatory to ease the pain. I had to try a few before I found one that worked for me – Voltaren in Australia although I think it has different name overseas.

I have had pain, like a stone bruise, in the palms of my hands and bottoms of my feet.  Over time it has progressed into my hips, knees, etc.  It has been chronic and horribly painful for the last 6 months.  All rheumatoid testing is negative.  It feels like it is in my tendons, as if they are tight and inflamed.  It has moved up my arms and legs and I have been fatigued.  Neurological exam is negative.  Seeing an endocrinologist soon.  Any ideas from anyone.  If I use my hands a lot and am on my feet, I am in terrible pain by the end of the day.  My feet will turn a bit bluish also.  My symptoms don't fit many categories and the doctors don't know what this is.  Thanks.

Hi Djakeh and all

I have something very similar and tried everything before discovering 'my solution'. I expect everyone is different and what works for me may not work for others as the causes of the problem may be different.

It would seem to be some form of auto immume reaction (to food) causing an inflammatory condition (maybe linked to AntiPhospoLipid Syndrome).

IN any case, I have fund eating a very simple diet of fruit and vegetable as well as   SOME animal/FISH protein to help. This has meant eliminating just about ALL refined carbohydrates (sugar, flours etc) and stimulants (Black teas, coffees (even decaf)). I have been off gluten for almost 20 years  and that helped alot but getting off all REFINED carbs (even non gluten containing ones), helps even more. I guess going back to a very 'natural' diet, unprocessed, just works for me. Artificial sweeteners cause me tremendous pain in my joints should i consume any accidently (e.g. in medicine).

I also use some herbal solutions now. I found that Boswelia and Turmeric (+ cayenne pepper) and Devil's Claw really brings all the inflammation and pain to almost unnoicable levels and i can climb stairs ago like i was a teenager. Cortisone has no beneficial effect for me and the heavy anti inflammatories (ARCOXIA 120 etc) masked the pain but didnt solve the underlying inflammation.

Hope this may help in some way.