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Does LCHF contribute to arthritis pain...?

  • Thread starter Thread starter debrasue
  • Start Date Start Date
debrasue said:
Hmmm, I wonder if it's down to dairy, then? I have been consuming more whole milk, yoghurt, cream and cheese since following the LCHF diet... I'm aware that vegetables from the nightshade family (potatoes - not eating those anyway - mushrooms, peppers, etc.) can contribute, so I have been limiting these somewhat, but I'm at a loss to understand what else it might be. As the weeks go by the pain seems to be becoming more and more intense.
Oh dear, I guess I can do without the milk, cream and yoghurt, but cheese is going to be a huge loss... :(
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Saturated fats and dairy can both be bad for arthritis.

Try cutting them out for a couple of weeks, and if it improves, reintroduce some back in one at a time, and see if it gets worse again.
 
poshtotty said:
Thank you for the mentions. Yes I had severe rheumatoid arthritis which was diagnosed 10 years ago, around the same time T2 was diagnosed. I've been LCHF'ing for just over 2 years and was told by my RA consultant 18 months ago that my RA is now in remission. An operation to replace 2 damaged joints was cancelled (due to my blood sugars being dangerously high) and when reviewed for surgery after getting my bs and HbA1c into near non-diabetic levels, my surgeon informed me that the joints had repaired themselves enough not to need surgery.

It can only be my diet that has brought about this improvement. I'm committed to LCHF for life as its enabled me to give up all the nasty RA meds, including a weekly injection of Methatrexate.

I do also take exceptionally good food supplements which I order from a supplier in the USA, together with Vit D during the winter, replacing the tablets in the summer for plenty of sunshine :)

I should say that I'm still in remission.

Do you take statins? They are also known to cause aches and pains
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It's amazing to hear that your joints repaired themselves - that's very encouraging. I have osteoarthritis, but my mum has had RA for about 50 years, and I know how painful it is for her.
No, I don't take statins fortunately, and I do take a daily multivitamin along with extra vitamin D and calcium (when I remember them!), as I'm keen to avoid osteoporosis (which my mother also suffers from) and I've had a few broken bones in the past.
Maybe I'm being a little over-optimistic in thinking that LCHF can solve all my problems as, following a pretty bad accident some years ago, I had to have my right knee completely replaced with a rotating hinge joint. The consultant explained that the joint would probably only last for 5 years, following which I would have to have my knee fused, as they wouldn't be able to do anything further with it. That was 15 years ago and I'm still hanging onto it..........! :)
I'll keep persevering with the LCHF plan, and work on staying optimistic that it's going to help!
 
Do you speak from personal experience @SunnyExpat ? Because the staples in my LCHF diet are butter, olive oil, cream and full fat yoghurt daily
 
poshtotty said:
Do you speak from personal experience @SunnyExpat ? Because the staples in my LCHF diet are butter, olive oil, cream and full fat yoghurt daily
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I avoid saturated fats, and most dairy, and I'm very pleased to say I stay trouble free.
But I do know people that have their arthritis flare up when they eat either, so I'm not going to push it.
 
SunnyExpat said:
I avoid saturated fats, and most dairy, and I'm very pleased to say I stay trouble free.
But I do know people that have their arthritis flare up when they eat either, so I'm not going to push it.
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I eat loads of dairy. I practically live off it. I also eat unsaturated fats. As I mentioned earlier, it can only have been low carbing that took my arthritic pains away.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I eat loads of dairy. I practically live off it. I also eat unsaturated fats. As I mentioned earlier, it can only have been low carbing that took my arthritic pains away.
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It's good you're fortunate enough to be able to tolerate dairy.
 
Here's another spanner to throw into the works...
At the time I started this thread (just after 3pm) I was climbing the walls with the pain. It was cloudy and dull outside.
I've been working online ever since (in between regular dives into this forum!), and have just realised that the pain has been improving over the past 3 hours and has now gone again.
It's bright and sunny outside now.
It seems to me that any movement in barometric pressure takes my pain levels through the roof at the time things are changing, so maybe it's not down to LCHF after all. I sincerely hope that's the case, because I feel far more alert and have more energy as a result of this eating plan and I don't want to change it now!
And I'd like to continue with the diary products if at all possible.................;)
 
That's interesting.
I also should have said that my RA has responded better to my LCHF lifestyle than my T2! I still struggle with my fasting bs and my weight loss is painfully slow, but is steady and there are many other benefits such as mental clarity, increased energy, improved complexion, sleep quality and lost inches
 
Cool damp weather does affect arthritis. People who live in warmer and drier climates don't suffer as much as we do. I know for a fact that when Indian/Pakistani people living in Britain succumb to the problem they are advised to take long holidays "back home" and it seems to help them.
 
debrasue said:
Here's another spanner to throw into the works...
At the time I started this thread (just after 3pm) I was climbing the walls with the pain. It was cloudy and dull outside.
I've been working online ever since (in between regular dives into this forum!), and have just realised that the pain has been improving over the past 3 hours and has now gone again.
It's bright and sunny outside now.
It seems to me that any movement in barometric pressure takes my pain levels through the roof at the time things are changing, so maybe it's not down to LCHF after all. I sincerely hope that's the case, because I feel far more alert and have more energy as a result of this eating plan and I don't want to change it now!
And I'd like to continue with the diary products if at all possible.................;)
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@debrasue - My partner has similar problems in bad weather or just before rain as your self but not diabetic. However, she takes a warm (not hot) bath with two large handfuls of EPSON SALTS in the water to dissolve, as this was recommended by a specialist, and it contains Magnesium which is good for the bones & eases some of the pain, it seems her legs are less aggravating and especially at night as she can be very restless due to leg pains. Just check it's ok for you to use via your doctor incase it clashes with other meds you may be taking. Take care & what ever that other stuff was about earlier, I too (now I've found the right place, thanks to William) ask you to stay. Take Care. squeekyboy (Steve)
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Cool damp weather does affect arthritis. People who live in warmer and drier climates don't suffer as much as we do. I know for a fact that when Indian/Pakistani people living in Britain succumb to the problem they are advised to take long holidays "back home" and it seems to help them.
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Hi Steve here, I suffer from Asthma & find if the Barometer is reading high I find it difficult to breath so a lot depends on the weather here & I found a holiday in the warmer (but not humid) country did the trick.
I could breath well. So I think you are right. All the best. Squeekyboy
 
debrasue said:
Here's another spanner to throw into the works...
At the time I started this thread (just after 3pm) I was climbing the walls with the pain. It was cloudy and dull outside.
I've been working online ever since (in between regular dives into this forum!), and have just realised that the pain has been improving over the past 3 hours and has now gone again.
It's bright and sunny outside now.
It seems to me that any movement in barometric pressure takes my pain levels through the roof at the time things are changing, so maybe it's not down to LCHF after all. I sincerely hope that's the case, because I feel far more alert and have more energy as a result of this eating plan and I don't want to change it now!
And I'd like to continue with the diary products if at all possible.................;)
Click to expand...


You seriously need to get your record keeping into shape or you're never going to know definitively with all these potential factors.

Food, exercise, weather, pain, any meds taken and anything else you've though of.
 
poshtotty said:
That's interesting.
I also should have said that my RA has responded better to my LCHF lifestyle than my T2! I still struggle with my fasting bs and my weight loss is painfully slow, but is steady and there are many other benefits such as mental clarity, increased energy, improved complexion, sleep quality and lost inches
Click to expand...
I totally agree with you about the slow weight loss and the other benefits! :-)
 
Squeekyboy said:
@debrasue - My partner has similar problems in bad weather or just before rain as your self but not diabetic. However, she takes a warm (not hot) bath with two large handfuls of EPSON SALTS in the water to dissolve, as this was recommended by a specialist, and it contains Magnesium which is good for the bones & eases some of the pain, it seems her legs are less aggravating and especially at night as she can be very restless due to leg pains. Just check it's ok for you to use via your doctor incase it clashes with other meds you may be taking. Take care & what ever that other stuff was about earlier, I too (now I've found the right place, thanks to William) ask you to stay. Take Care. squeekyboy (Steve)
Click to expand...
Thanks, Steve!
 
AndBreathe said:
You seriously need to get your record keeping into shape or you're never going to know definitively with all these potential factors.

Food, exercise, weather, pain, any meds taken and anything else you've though of.
Click to expand...
I'm working on it!
 
How are things @debrasue?
I found pre lchf in 2015 I was very resilient to pain, in fact I very rearly felt any. Occasion twing for period pain, well more a dull ache.
On lchf in early 2016 I developed severe pain and high sensitivity. Skin touching sensitivity too.
I increased carbs to rid myself of palpatations and dizziness on 50g-100g carbs. On 250g dizziness left. Unsure whether due to pain relief for pelvic joint and lower back or longterm bisoprolol or in fact increasing carbs back to 250g. I still have pain, muscle, skin sensitivity alongside pain in my musculoskeletal system primarily on my right side.
Starting low carb in a few days time with low salt for heart health after a heart attack threat and on-going investigation into my cardio health.
I have excellent cholestrol levels throughout, which is due more to a thyroid disorder than any dietary or exercise reguime. I still haven't received results of my calcium score ct scan but told once cardiologist has all results he will decide what happens next. Over a decade I've been receiving treatment for acute high blood pressure which started in my first pregnancy. (So maybe mostly weight related) Bariatric surgery fingers crossed will eradicate or reduce such meds. Surgery I'm signing up for in feb.
I too look to the lchf to fix everything but to be honest bariatric surgery and lchf should be much more effective!
 
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