has anyone noticed any correlation between joint pain and what you eat? I am looking for the "hive brain"
I did a lot of walking and running last week, and this has, for the past year or so, resulted in knee pain - not really painful pain, just a basic ache on stairs and stuff - I put it down to mainly my meniscus injury, not getting the exercise I used to get before the working from home due to the pandemic (ie no commute on public transport and the walking to and from the station), getting older, pre-menopause bla bla bla. Pre-pandemic I had never really suffered from joint pain (the odd twinge but never anything painful), but I had always had a base activity from commuting, walking the dogs etc.
However, one day last week, after a particularly busy walking day taking my daughter to a specialist for her back (finally signed off, after 4 years yaaaaay) I woke up the next morning and came down the stairs with not even a twinge... The next day, back to twinges on stairs. A big walking day normally has the opposite effect.
I was on the phone to a friend and mentioned this, and she said it sounds like a food allergy. I have random allergies to food (bananas, sensitive to kiwis) but never had anything else. The only reason I am considering it is that on the day when I was so busy, I basically fasted without doing it on purpose. I was out at lunch time and never ate and was helping a friend at dinner time and was too tired to eat when I came back. So in reality I fasted from Tuesday after dinner through to Thursday midday. Thursday morning I woke up with no knee pain, Friday the knee niggles were back.
I am going to test my theory by fasting on purpose (I'm sure this will be harder than doing it by accident... ) for a non-run day and seeing if it has the same effect.
Sorry this was long, and I've already deleted twice before hitting send, but I really would like to know people's common sense thoughts - the information on google about joint pains vs allergies is mixed (as per most things on the internet).
Thoughts?
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I am not sure why you have associated this with allergies?
Apparently there is some evidence for intermittent fasting causing a reduction in inflammation, which could lead to a reduction of pain. You need to gather more evidence though 😊
I only associated with allergies because of my friend's remark - I hadn't previously thought of it.
I am running this evening and then I will fast until Thursday lunch - I am at least determined to see if this was a one off or whether fasting (or an allergy) can help.
I get a rash all over my torso - I was diagnosed with measles 3 times until they worked it out This was when I was a young child. I thought maybe I'd grown out of it, but I tried a banana smoothie a few years back and had the same problem.
I also have pollen allergies (tested positive for grass seed, oak, plane tree and ash) which result in seasonal asthma. The desensitisation drops they gave me to put in my mouth made the bit of skin under my tongue swell up a lot - so had to stop with that or live with anti-histamines for the whole desensitisation process, which would be very hard for me as I feel like I'm foggy the whole time I take them.
Blood test reacted to latex, but it only makes me itch, no dangerous inflammation, very tingly mouth with kiwi (both banana cross allergens).
All make up I have tried on my face makes me itch, gave up trying a long time ago, maybe some of the newer ones wouldn't, I haven't tried.
It sounds a lot worse than it is when you list it like that!
The only one that really affects my life is pollen - avoiding bananas, latex and make up are easy really once you know about them. Avoiding ear buds with latex in them was easily solved with aeropex bone conduction earphones for running.
Hi BIT. Caveat, I am no medic but I am of a certain age! You didn’t mention your age, but you did reference pre-menopause. I am 57, so that’s all behind me now, but I remember when I was about 50-51, I used to have horrid joint pain on occasion. I put it down to my very manual job working at an equine vets and being hauled around by horses on a daily basis, but I also discovered joint pain is very common in pre- and peri-menopausal women.
I don’t know for sure if that’s what caused mine, or if was to do with my job, but it went as quickly as it came. I probably “suffered” (it didn’t stop me doing things) for a few months, but one day I realised it had gone.
Could be totally off the mark here, but I thought it was worth mentioning. Hope you get sorted. 🥰
hi CCM, yes, I put the joint pain & aches down to general stuff like pre-menopause, until I had a day of no pain at all (and I didn't realise how much background ache "noise" there was until I had a day without it
I’m a bit of a nutrition geek and have suffered with food intolerances myself. I was the biggest critic before my health deteriorated about 5 years ago. Processed carbs eg bread, biscuits, and sugar cause inflammation throughout the body which can present as joint pain, skin rashes, migraines etc
Gluten and lactose if you are intolerant can also cause inflammation. I had knee and elbow pain, regular headaches and a skin full of eczema until I cut out gluten. Now I have none 😊
I now eat natural food, food that looks like food, and all my health issues have resolved.
Sounds like you have oral allergy syndrome with reaction to bananas and kiwis. It also sounds like you have quite a ‘reactive’ immune system so something could be driving your inflammation. Only an exclusion diet can help you identify the culprits which is quite a long drawn out process and quite restricting, but it’s the only way of being sure.
My intolerances and exclusion diet were managed via an immunologist at my local hospital so it is a real condition and not ‘mumbo jumbo’.
Thanks, I never thought it was mumbo jumbo, just never thought I had anything apart from my long time allergies.
If this second fasting day makes no difference, I'll chalk it up to dumb luck, if it does make a difference I'll take my findings to my doctor and ask to be referred back to my allergist (I live in France, we have to be referred to specialists once signed off)
The mumbo jumbo bit was because lots of people doubt food intolerances and think it’s people being over fussy or jumping on a health band wagon. As I say, I was the biggest sceptic before it happened to me. I was just trying to add some medical credibility so people don’t just think I’m nuts 😂😂. Good luck with it.
I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next, if it works i’m for sure going to try that. I have lived with general aches since my 30’s and thought it was arthritis as i’d been told I’d have arthritis when i broke my leg at 12 yrs and it’s in the family too.
3 years ago a chiropractor sent me for x rays and long story short I need a heel lift because one leg is quite a bit shorter, when talking to the foot guy I mentioned wanting a pair of orthotic insoles which were made for me and seemed a bit of extravagance until a couple days later i realised no knee pain.
But I do think the fasting helps and now need motivation
Interesting consideration…. We are what we eat after all. Let us know what you find out after more experimentation.
I have a slight allergy to latex which apparently is why I don't like Kiwis because one goes with the other in allergy world (I learned this from a doctor a few years ago) but I’m ok with bananas. But it’s hard to work out what triggers some allergies.
Reading about your joint pain reminds me of a friend of mine who is currently suffering with this and is going through all sorts of tests to determine what the cause is. She thinks it might be her reaction to the Covid vaccine and has done some research on it (NOT Mrs. Google!) and joint pain is a fairly common side effect apparently.
I imagine there could be loads of reasons for joint pain so I hope you get to the bottom of yours. Good luck with the fasting!
This thread is fascinating. I have a friend who is convinced her hip pain is due to the vaccine. Do you know what research your friend found about this and could share with me?
I don’t Brian but she’s coming to stay with me for a few days next week and so I’ll ask her. I know she’s seen a few consultants and they are in agreement with her about the possible side effect of the vaccine but of course there’s no concrete evidence to suggest this for sure. One of the consultants told her that the vaccine may have triggered various “weakened” areas for some people and I’m sure they're doing some research on this.
My friend has used this app which collates symptoms from those who submit and she says that joint pain is fairly common so perhaps your friend could input her symptoms and see what comes up.
Not sure this helps but I have been dairy free and gluten free for a year. I used to have swollen ankles often, specifically in the evening. Going completely dg free meant no more swollen ankles. At all.
I don’t have joint pain outright, but swollen ankles certainly gave a kind of tired ache.
I am not a coeliac but gluten certainly seemed to cause my inflammation. Dairy is - after gluten - the second most food people with my condition (Hashimotos) react to, so I cut that out as well, but am experimenting with goats cheese and kefir.
I also have been working with a thyroid specialist and nutritionist, and am tracking my inflammation markers through regular blood tests, so am convinced this is certainly not mumbo jumbo. Food, I think, can have that affect.
Interesting. I also have auto-immune hypothyroid (as probably did my maternal grandfather) but my only known allergy is to cats and one particular antibiotic. (I was tested for allergies about three years ago.)
Yep, I used to get very tender knuckles. Since we gave up meat and dairy that's gone. As Abi said it's all about internal inflammation. Ginger and turmeric are great for reducing inflammation.
We are absolutely what we eat. Not a fasting fan but I would definitely advocate starting a food diary and seeing if there are patterns and foods that keep appearing.
Thanks JoJo, I don't think I could adopt fasting as a lifestyle, but a one to two day fast to see if food is making a difference seems a good "quick check". If the answer is yes, then I'll start a food diary and make an appointment with my doctor.
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