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Dear List:
Judging from the number of replies I received over a period of several weeks I would say that gluten-related muscle spasms are a major problem for many of us. This is important information because one of my doctors thinks I imagine the connection, despite much evidence to the contrary from years of experience. 

Many expressed similar difficulties making the connection plausible to doctors. I find strength in numbers.

No one mentioned my own remedy for middle-of-the-night leg cramps: chew on a Lactaid tablet. The cramps disappear instantly.

Another post strongly urged having a good physical therapist to help differentiate causes of pain. I couldn't agree more. A good therapist has hands-on experience of tissues and can often tell by feel whether the pain is caused by muscular tension or other tissue, like the ligaments one of the responders mentioned.

I cite below excerpts from posts with particular insights / suggestions that may prove useful. 


I am grateful for all the replies and for all I have learned about coping with this disease over the years.

Nancy Garniez


ReQuip as doc thinks it is restless leg syndrome and it does help.Sometimes I take 1/4 of a pill in the evening if I get cramps in legs or feet.
I share other's stories of this on the site http://GlutenFreeHelp.infoI attribute the cramping to being low in Vitamin D. I drink Gatorade when I go through these bouts.
Theobromine relaxes smooth muslce and 
suppresses the vagas nerve function, helps open the airway for an 
asthmatic (she has some of this too). It also gets rid of the reflux 
for a couple of hours. We are looking for a supplement that has 
theobromine, or we will have to ask the doctor for theophylline (the 
pharmaceutical version) in a pill, which is used for asthmatics who are 
hard to control.

My muscles in my legs are actually too small in one direction as a result of my malnurishment so walking is extraordinarily painful.
I share similar symptoms often in strange places like my knees- that aren't arthritis. Only getting up and walking it off helps it seems. … Also have spasms over my left kidney area that will wake me up literally screaming from the pain levels. 
I also have swelling in my lower legs … usually from inactivity vs working out too much. … perhaps lack of protein? 
Im newly diagnosed with both Celiac disease and Colitis, as well as have an MSG allergy, and am intolerant to Soy. So, I am new to all of this and it would help if I had more information = my doctor seems clueless. Will be watching the list!! :)
I used to have terrible joint pain;
I felt as if I was 80 years old!!! (At the time, I was a little over half
that.)
I got h.pylori which is apparently something celiacs are more prone to get. I have back problems, but they were much worse with the inflammation from the h.pylori. I was told by a celiac doctor that the inflammation of the digestive tract from years of undiagnosed celiac followed by the inflammation of h.pylori would affect and weaken the ligaments and cause the back pain. My muscles would go into spasm in response. 
I don't get the muscle cramps from gluten ingestion but from sugars. I can't eat fruit, sweet vegetables, corn syrup etc, not drink alcohol. I get a terribly itchy rash on my legs and get muscle cramps every hour or so during the night if I have any kind of sugar. I can use honey, and do drink Diet Coke but not Diet Pepsi. 

http://nancygarniez.blogspot.com 
www.tonalrefraction.com 

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