Food Allergy and Joint Pain/Inflammation page 2

[Dudge]

I have had a very similar problem with my left ankle for the last 12 years. I've had an MRI and a bone scan done with no luck. I've been taking 200mg of Celebrex for the past 5 or 6 years off and on (while working) and if I miss a day of it while in the middle of my work week, I can barely walk the next morning. I'm going to look in the the celery idea, this is the first time I've heard anything about it. Good luck and let us know of any updates!

[Nady]

All I can tell you is, once I had such pain in the first joint of my right thumb, I couldn't even hold my hairbrush. Was eating aspirin like candy. Started craving celery ~ I'm one of those *listen to your body* people, so I ate celery. Lots of celery~ all day long. And in less than a week, the pain started to recede. I am now 99.9% pain free~ on the days I get twinges in that thumb, I eat more celery!

I did some googling at the time, seems celery is an ancient remedy for arthritis~ kinda makes it primal

[emmie]

I'm firmly in favor of dietary solutions, but sometimes an Rx is essential. How long did you take the Naproxen?

I have severe osteoarthritis, which I control with diet and exercise, but many years ago, I had an injury that required NSAIDs like Naproxen. I took it as directed for two weeks, but then the pain returned immediately. I happened to be traveling and saw another doctor, a specialist at a big city medical center, and he told me that the original prescription for only 2 weeks was almost worthless and that my injury would require at least 6 weeks of anti-inflammatory meds (NSAIDs). Six weeks later, I was pain free, and the injury was completely resolved.

[Blackcatbone]

Be careful with NSAIDs, as they can cause leaky gut, which will only make your problems worse. Do you eat starches? If you do try going low/now starch for a bit and see if that helps. This may be difficult being an athlete as many use them post work out, but it may be an issue. Starches feed bacteria that cause inflammation and if this is your problem eliminating starch should help. I had Achilles tendons on both sides and I have an artificial disc in my neck. If I eat starches I flare within a couple of hours. Corn is a major trigger for me as well. Unfortunately, both are difficult to avoid.

[SlimIcy]

You could also try talking to your primary care physician about getting tested for gout and pseudo-gout. They usually hit the toes, not the ankles, but stranger things have happened.

[vb66]

I would try eliminating eggs and all nightshades very strictly for a month. Nightshades can be tricky as they are hidden everywhere so you have to be very careful. If your pain goes away, then add one group back in at time and see which one it is.

Both of them cause joint swelling and pain for me. Nightshades are the worst. After nearly 2 years of eliminating them, I can have a little here and there without too much trouble, but in the beginning even a tiny bit would flare me in the worst way!!

ETA: you also may want to check your vitamin D3 levels and keep them high to help with inflammation.

I'm going to have to look more intO nightshades to see how much of them I'm eating. My digestive system is really rebelling right now so something isn't right. I've been slacking on Vit D because I've been trying to get outside. I'll go back to supplementing.

[vb66]

My suggestion has little to do with your diet...but consider trying acupuncture. An anti inflammatory sounds as if it's only masking the pain. It sounds as if there isn't an obvious structural issue, but definitely something that could be worked out with a course of acupuncture.

Just my 2 pesos.

Yes I've been doing acuPuncture regularly.

[patski]

I'd still remove eggs for about a month and see how you feel.

I just found out I am very allergic to eggs. This breaks my heart.

*SOBS*

[vb66]

Emmie: I'm thinking of going back on naproxen. When I stayed on it for a few weeks there was drastic improvement. I just didn't like the idea of being on them too long.

Blackcatbone: you're right, naproxen tore uP my gut but it helped. Cutting starches is tough with all my activity. Too much fruit uPsets my stomach.

Should I be on a probiotic?

Thank you to everyone for the help so far!

[Blackcatbone]

That's a rough one, I'm in the same boat, although not an athlete. I have fructose malabsorption so my choice of fruit is limited also. Is it all fruit that upsets your stomach or some more than others? I'm not all that familiar with how probiotics might work for you because I've always had problems taking them. A question though, have you taken antibiotics for anything in the last couple of years?