Arthritis and mononeuritis multiplex

BearcatRx · Post by **BearcatRx** » Thu May 19, 2016 3:58 pm

Well, after being on colestipol for nearly five months and all of my GI issues have resolved, the arthritis pain has set in. It's mostly in my right finger joints and mildly in my left hand as well. I've also had some ulnar nerve issues. I had a EMG done which showed mild carpal tunnel in my left wrist but I'm having more issues with my right hand. My pinky and ring fingers feel really tight, especially in the mornings and evenings. The neurologist suggested something called mononeuritis multiplex? Apparently some sort of autoimmune disease. Anyone else ever hear of this disease?

CathyMe. · Post by **CathyMe.** » Fri May 20, 2016 4:54 am

I"ve not heard of monoeuritis multiplex but I too had ulnar neuropathy. Are you left handed? Sounds like you need an EMG on your right hand as well? I had surgery to transpose my ulnar nerve in my right arm and have no symptoms now (currently 6 months post op). Too much computer work.

BearcatRx · Post by **BearcatRx** » Fri May 20, 2016 6:20 pm

I have had a EMG done on both arms from the shoulder to fingers. Test showed mild carpal tunnel in the left wrist but nothing else to speak of. The doctor doing the test said my symptoms were similar to mononeuritis multiplex. I don't really feel like I've got any sort of neuropathy, I just have a very tight feeling in my right forearm and ring/pinkie fingers along with joint paint.

Post by **tex** » Fri May 20, 2016 11:34 pm

Is your cholesterol level maybe getting too low?

Tex

BearcatRx · Post by **BearcatRx** » Sat May 21, 2016 8:34 am

My levels were always within normal limits, although I haven't had it checked since I began colestipol. My dosage is below that recommended for cholesterol reduction but it is probably enough to cause a shift.

Post by **tex** » Sat May 21, 2016 10:46 am

The reason I asked is because following a couple of TIAs 6–7 years ago, my doctors convinced me that I should be taking a statin (among other things). But after roughly 5–6 months, I would wake up during the night or in the morning with stiff fingers that refused to move on their own. I had to take my other hand and fold them down to free them up. Sometimes it affected 1 hand,sometimes both. A few weeks after I stopped using the statin, my fingers were OK again. My cholesterol level had crashed from the 220–230 range to below 150, and as you are probably aware, that's very likely the most dangerous cholesterol level one can have, as far as mortality risk is concerned.

And remember that cholestyramine is one of the most effective magnesium absorption antagonists available. Magnesium deficiency is a very common cause of neuritis and it's often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia and other issues.

Tex

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat May 21, 2016 2:30 pm

I had two thoughts (i have been pondering it since you posted) ..

the cholestyramine is affecting absorption of key minerals/vitamins (as tex mentions)

additionally if you are having gluten dairy etc reguarly, the cholestyamine is stopping gut reactions, but the gluten could be contributing to inflammation at the joints, additionally in line with point 1, things like gluten can cause inflammation of the myelin of the cells, the combo of gluten and not getting enough Vit D and magnesium B12 etc due to the cholestyramine, this inflammation is causing the symptoms

Post by **tex** » Sat May 21, 2016 4:30 pm

I forgot about the diet abandonment. Yes, forced/induced tolerance of gluten, casein, etc. does not stop the antibody production. Antibodies will continue to be produced and they are bound to have some sort of consequence.

In my case for example, I can tolerate casein without any digestive system symptoms whatsoever, but I produce antibodies to casein, and if I continue to eat it, osteoarthritis slowly develops until it becomes a significant problem. There are no free lunches with food sensitivities. Even the oral immunotherapy treatment programs have that problem. Certain clinical symptoms are resolved, but antibodies continue to be produced and they can eventually cause other AI issues to present. I can cite a medical research reference on that if needed.

Tex

BearcatRx · Post by **BearcatRx** » Sat May 21, 2016 6:01 pm

tex wrote: I forgot about the diet abandonment. Yes, forced/induced tolerance of gluten, casein, etc. does not stop the antibody production. Antibodies will continue to be produced and they are bound to have some sort of consequence.

In my case for example, I can tolerate casein without any digestive system symptoms whatsoever, but I produce antibodies to casein, and if I continue to eat it, osteoarthritis slowly develops until it becomes a significant problem. There are no free lunches with food sensitivities. Even the oral immunotherapy treatment programs have that problem. Certain clinical symptoms are resolved, but antibodies continue to be produced and they can eventually cause other AI issues to present. I can cite a medical research reference on that if needed.

Tex

Yes, this is exactly as I had been suspecting. Although it doesn't really explain my muscle/ulnar nerve issues, it certainly could explain the finger joint pain I've been experiencing. The Colestipol takes care of the GI problems of consuming gluten but I knew the antibodies would eventually cause other problems. I take 1g of colestipol in the morning, approximately half way through the day I take a B complex, 5000 units of cholecalciferol and 400mg of Mg glycinate. I try to space it out as much as I can from the colestipol to minimize its absorption effects.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat May 21, 2016 6:24 pm

As i said, inflammation damage to the myelin affects the nervous system.

https://www.glutenfreesociety.org/glute ... europathy/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... blems.aspx

keep in mind, 400mg of elemental magnesium is the minimal RDA - you may need more
are you taking Vit D3?

Post by **tex** » Sat May 21, 2016 7:10 pm

Bearcat wrote:5000 units of cholecalciferol

Yes he is.

Tex

BearcatRx · Post by **BearcatRx** » Sat May 21, 2016 9:40 pm

Gabes-Apg wrote:As i said, inflammation damage to the myelin affects the nervous system.

https://www.glutenfreesociety.org/glute ... europathy/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... blems.aspx

keep in mind, 400mg of elemental magnesium is the minimal RDA - you may need more
are you taking Vit D3?

I think what I've been experiencing is a direct ulnar nerve issue... whether it be compression or possibly a cyst rather than neuropathy.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun May 22, 2016 6:15 pm

this article has better references etc

The relationship of celiac disease to neurologic and psychiatric complications has been observed for over 40 years [7, 8]. Gluten sensitive patients also have a host of neurologic and psychiatric complications. However it is notable, based on the lack of gut involvement, that neurologic and psychiatric complications seen in gluten sensitive patients may be the prime presentation in patients suffering from this disease. Therefore gluten sensitivity may easily go unrecognized and untreated. Data suggests that up to 22% of patients with CD develop neurologic or psychiatric dysfunction [9], and as many as 57% of people with neurological dysfunction of unknown origin test positive for anti-gliadin antibodies [10]. Neurologic and psychiatric complications observed with gluten-mediated immune responses include a variety of disorders. For example, a PubMed literature search (dates 1953–2011) located 162 original articles associating psychiatric and neurologic complications to celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3641836/

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun May 22, 2016 6:30 pm

Neuromyelitis Optica
Once thought to be a subtype of MS, neuromyelitis optica is a condition caused by inflammation in your spinal cord and optical nerves that leads to degeneration of the protective myelin sheath in these areas. MRI of your brain and spinal cord reveals plaques that resemble those found in MS. The July 2005 issue of “Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry” cited what were thought to be the first two reported cases of gluten sensitivity that presented itself as neuromyelitis optica. In March 2011, another case of gluten sensitivity associated with neuromyelitis optica was reported in “The Israel Medical Association Journal.”

Considerations
Gluten sensitivity can be associated with inflammatory changes in multiple organ systems, including your nervous system. Both celiac disease and MS are autoimmune conditions, meaning they are caused by inappropriate immune responses directed against your own tissues. Whether MS and celiac disease are simply found together more frequently or whether celiac disease can mimic MS on MRI scanning is unclear, but scientists have discovered associations between gluten sensitivity and MS-like disorders. If you have gluten sensitivity and your MRI has shown changes consistent with MS, ask your physician about a possible connection.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/50357 ... mri-tests/

dfpowell · Post by **dfpowell** » Mon May 23, 2016 3:21 pm

BearcatRx

I just came across this article looking at neuromuscular disorders, one of which was mononeuropathy multiplex, as a presenting feature of celiac. http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/63/6/770.full

They stated: "Neurological symptoms antedated the diagnosis of celiac disease in all, and most had minimal or no gastrointestinal symptoms at the onset of the neuromuscular disorder.

The study is small and dated, but thought it might be helpful. Have you had genetic testing to see if you have any Celiac markers?