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Diet and Reactive Arthritis

Posted , 4 users are following.

Glass_artist
Glass_artist

i have never changed my diet in the 35 years I have had this syndrome. What diet or foods has anyone eliminated and noted diminished inflammation, thus pain.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • clara02476
    clara02476 Glass_artist

    Posted

    I eliminated gluten about 3 years ago and greatly reduced dairy and have been more or less symptom-free since without medication. I was also getting accupunture at the time which may have contributed. In fact, the acuptuncturist (no-frills Chinatown practitioner) instructed "no beer, no bread" after the sessions, so that was set me down the path. I was probably at the lower end of the Reactive Arthritis spectrum for symptom presentation and pain - almost completely localized to a single [extremely swollen] knee.
    • katenyc5
      katenyc5 clara02476

      Posted

      Hi Clara. You are my hero.

      I got this about 15 months ago after a skin infection followed by stress relating to marital separation. I suffered for a year, and I mean suffered with it spreading from my knees to my spine. I changed my diet, eliminated gluten. Did an ALCAT blood test to find out my food sensitivities and really went nuts removing everything that showed up as a food sensitivity. Started meditating to reduce stress. Went on sulfasalazine for 6 months which did not work.

      A few months ago it suddenly got better. Not perfect but so much better I was pretty happy and could have lived with the few aches and pains in my legs and knees. Symptoms were very mild and I felt close to being back to my old self.

      Having had a stressful September, symptoms started back up again a couple of weeks ago and I have been miserable again. Low quality of life. I got strict again on my diet and trying to reduce stress or handle it better. I am really discouraged though. I thought I had it managed and I never would get a bad flare up like this again. It shocked me.

      Now I am trying to find my way back again. I went from so hopeful to worried and I want to get back again to where you are, Clara, and stay there.

      There has got to be a solution to this. I know that everyone here has triggers and these are probably individual and unique unto ourselves. However I believe there must be a way to keep this in check so that we can all live good lives and not suffer greatly from this condition. Whether that be meds, diet, stress reduction, whatever it could be.

      Just last month I was ready to write in to help someone w diet control because of how well I felt. Now I am humbled by this relapse and vulnerable.

      I love your story. 3 years is a long time and my goal is to be where you are. Thanks for sharing your story.

    • Preparing2Heal
      Preparing2Heal clara02476

      Posted

      Clara, you're story is inspiring and exactly the results I anticipate as a result of the path I've chosen to address ReA. By way of conventional medicine, I'm taking methotrexate and diclofenac. I'm also seeing a specialist in traditional medicines with a focus on the root cause of the inflammation in my body. I'm taking whole food supplements, probiotics, herbal remedies to build my immune system and changing my diet to eliminate food sensitivities. I'm 8 weeks into both forms of treatment and already experiencing some moderate successes. I intend to win in the long run. Your story encourages me. Thank you!
    • Preparing2Heal
      Preparing2Heal katenyc5

      Posted

      @katenyc5,

      Please don't be discouraged from sharing. My food sensitivities have revealed some tricky business for me - chicken, turkey, dairy and gluten to name a few 😱 - so I need all the dietary assistance available. Lol! Sincerely, my understanding is that relapses can occur. If you were able to move into a place of wellness once, you can undoubtedly do it again and again and again. So please, share whatever has worked for you because it could be just what one of us needs. Best wishes on your second turnaround!

    • katenyc5
      katenyc5 Preparing2Heal

      Posted

      Hi Clara and everyone here. It is great to find support and people who understand.

      Things had quieted down for me after a year long struggle. I attributed it to diet change after I did an ALCAT blood test for food sensitivities but I also took up meditation as I feel strongly that stressful periods can make things worse.

      I went full blown on the diet, eliminating just about everything I could and that was tricky business. I started having better and better days and it felt like it was petering out. Then a few good months came and I felt I was past it for good until a few weeks ago when a flare up came back on. I had started to relax on the diet and had a pretty stressful month of september, so I figured that had something to do with it. I am motivated again to feel better.

      I was off all meds and now starting back on Naproxen. Methotrexate worries me because the drug I was previously on, sulfasalazine, started to affect my liver function tests (I went off of it and levels returned to normal).

      My rheumatologist would like for me to try Humira and I look at that as a last resort although if I needed to, I would do it as I feel quality of life is so important. Side effects long term concern me but much less so than they used to.

      Another thing I am looking into is the mind body connection. Has anyone seen the movie The Connection, made by an Australian woman who was diagnosed with lupus? It is excellent. I came across it last year upon googling self curing. Maybe this line of thinking ties into meditation. I am exploring it more. Would love to think that we can each have a hand in controlling our symptoms beyond diet and medications.

      I am just really glad to have a place to discuss this. Grateful for this group!

      Kate

  • Glass_artist
    Glass_artist

    Posted

    @clara02476:

    Is your REactive ARthritis chronic with flares/exacerbations over the years? My understanding with this kind of arthritis is you can have full blown reactive arthritis from an infection then never have problems again. A few percentage of patients continue to have problems, in many different areas. That is I!

    • clara02476
      clara02476 Glass_artist

      Posted

      Not chronic, but it's flared on a few occasions, lasting longer each time. Each time, I tested positive for Strep antibodies so one theory was that it was reactive to exposure to strep even though I didn't have strep symptoms. But as it seems like all things with this, it's just a guess.
    • Glass_artist
      Glass_artist clara02476

      Posted

      Are you a strep carrier? Strep throat is what precipitated my Reactive Arthritis. I had 3 strep throats in 2 months, and they thought I might be a strep carrier, but I wasn't. Did they culture the fluid in your joint(s)?
    • clara02476
      clara02476 Glass_artist

      Posted

      Not a strep carrier as far as I know, but none of the many doctors brought it up. They did test the aspirated joint fluid a few times and nothing ever surfaced.
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