Unfortunately, most doctors specializing in the treatment of arthritis, joint pain, muscle pain, and autoimmune diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system never even consider food in the diet as a contributing cause in the development of these conditions. They prescribe drugs leading to a phenomenon known as the Prescription Pain Trap. Read on to learn more…
I was formally trained in rheumatology at the VA hospital in Houston, TX, and I can say that diet and nutritional recommendations to patients were discouraged and in most cases frowned upon by our attending physicians. It was actually this experience that prompted me to dig deeper into the connection between autoimmune disease and food.
Over the past 10 years, I have treated thousands of patients with arthritic conditions. The most single effective therapies have always been diet and exercise. The paradox with exercise… It is harder to stick to an exercise program if it constantly flares up the arthritis.
Everyone reacts uniquely based on their own unique chemistry. But it only makes sense that if drugs can target inflammation as a treatment, why can’t food. After all, isn’t food a drug of sorts?
I have found that medical research greatly supports this connection, but more importantly, I have found that patients get better after eliminating inflammatory foods from their diets. What foods should we avoid to help recover from arthritis? Depends on the person. Everyone is unique.
Don’t Fall Into the Prescription Pain Trap:
Drugs only mask inflammation, they do not correct the source. Many pain meds also cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This side effect can prevent long term healing. For example, NSAIDS (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause folic acid and vitamin C deficiency. Both of these vitamins are crucial for the body to be able to repair damaged cartilage, joints, tendons, and ligaments. See the diagram below:
Fox News recently interviewed me on this very complex topic. You can watch the interview below. If you think that the information will benefit someone (including your doctor), please share it.
Forms of Arthritis That Benefit With Diet Changes:
In my clinical experience the following short list of foods commonly contribute to arthritis. The list is not comprehensive, but includes some of the more common food triggers of joint pain.
Remember, you don’t have to fall victim to the Prescription Pain Trap. Find out where your inflammation is coming from and take action. If you need more help and guidance, I would highly recommend you pick up a copy of my best selling book, No Grain No Pain
All the best,
Dr. Osborne – AKA The Gluten Free Warrior
Written by Dr. Peter Osborne Updated on August 16, 2024
14 Responses
Yes, I had joint pain. Apart from gout which is very painful and the chronic rotater cuff issues I would have and regularly, all gone now, I also had pain in my knees for years. It began in my mid 30’s. I assumed it was due to sports I played in high school and even took pride in saying I’ve got football knees. But it hurt mostly when I would descent stairs at the metro station everyday. I would have to shift and thrust my weight to avoid sharp pains in both knees as I negotiated the daily obstacle. I had read that rheumatoid arthritis could also be attributed to gluten but never thought that is what I had. I thought I was too young for that diagnosis. It was six months approximately after I went gluten free that my knee pain began to evaporate much like the multitude of other symptoms I’d been having as well but never thought to chalk them up to gluten too. It’s been a year and a half for me now since I went gluten free. Now at 40, I still almost giggle inside with every single step I take up or down those same stairs. I think to myself with each step, “That doesn’t hurt. That didn’t hurt, neither did that, and that doesn’t hurt either.” It’s such a trip for me. I love it. Still profoundly enlightened. You guys helped me a lot in my research. Thanks. Tadeu
Tadeu,
Awesome story! Thanks so much for sharing as I know someone will read your post and most likely find the strength to take action. Thanks for caring enough about others to share 🙂
All the best,
Dr. O
What about stem cells therapy? it seems to fix, not just patch are diminish health problems. I have a friend who works for a Stem cells clinic in Mexico and she told me they have great results for many degenerative diseases! What are your thoughts?
What are the effects of gluten on asthma? I have a friend who has very bad asthma and I would like to give her some research info on eliminating gluten to help her asthma.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2012. I was in severe, daily unrelenting body wide pain and had to go on FMLA. I did a lot of research and found an integrative medical doctor. I have created a regimen that works well in controlling my fibro symptoms and dietary changes are a part of my regimen. I follow a paleo diet and have been grain-free for two and a half years. Changing my diet has helped tremendously along with the other aspects of my regimen.
Hi Dr Osborne
I want to complement you on your site and spreading this important information.
I have studied nursing and Naturopathy and feel I never was trained adequately about nerve pain.
In short I have sustained a back injury with two herniated discs.
I now have chronic nerve pain for whicjh I take lyrica but also a high grade Turmeric and various herbs.
I have gone off gluten.
Will now try all grains as have long hx of thryroid hashimotos antibodies- always treated naturally. Never medicated to date.
I am interested if you recommend anything for nerve pain?
In best health
Megan
I’m also interested in stem cell treatment for degenerative disk disease, bulging disk, and herniated disk. My daughter, who is only 36, suffers terribly from this debilitating disease. She’s been on prescription pain killers for 4-5 years now and has to have steroid injections every 3 months as well an occipital block every three months in her neck where she has had 2 disk replacements and a fusion just to survive. Please help!!!!!!!
KISS. Keep it simple. Something in your daughter’s body is attacking her. Her doctors do no know what. More important is that her treatment seems to be hurting her. Wheat could be the cause. I thought I needed to replace my sagging mattress because of back pain, stiff neck (I could hear the crunching noise whenever I moved my head. After sitting without moving my head for more than 5 minutes I had to use my hands to get it moving. I was taking 20 mg oral prednisone for fibromyalgia. I had sleep apnea, foot neuropathy and about a dozen other unrelated symptoms. After giving up wheat ALL of them went away. I DID NOT have to replace the bed. My prednisone is down to 5 mg a day. I was awake every two hours to pee (BPH I was diagnosed with 40 years ago) or for incredible heartburn, or pain in my back or neck. I’ve been wheat free 18 months now and sleep 8 hours straight and wake up with no pain and am amazed at how I can do stuff pain free. Contrary to what the food industry wants you to believe, Wheat is not sacrosanct and necessary for health. In my experience, once I stopped wheat and added an iodine supplement and vitamin D3 my body started healing itself. Just try it.
Dr. Osborne,
I have an idea to increase the impact of your goal to educate
others. I am an inpatient now and have told several nurses/patient care techs about your knowledge and they were as enthusiastic as I am.
Do you see major turnaround with the diet senior citizens?
What does someone do to stay on the diet when hospitalized?
How does a senior gain weight or maintain and improve muscle mass on the diet?
I’ve not read your book yet. I’m not sure when I can get a copy. I’m going to rehab in a few days.
I’m glad to see your passion.
14 Responses
Yes, I had joint pain. Apart from gout which is very painful and the chronic rotater cuff issues I would have and regularly, all gone now, I also had pain in my knees for years. It began in my mid 30’s. I assumed it was due to sports I played in high school and even took pride in saying I’ve got football knees. But it hurt mostly when I would descent stairs at the metro station everyday. I would have to shift and thrust my weight to avoid sharp pains in both knees as I negotiated the daily obstacle. I had read that rheumatoid arthritis could also be attributed to gluten but never thought that is what I had. I thought I was too young for that diagnosis. It was six months approximately after I went gluten free that my knee pain began to evaporate much like the multitude of other symptoms I’d been having as well but never thought to chalk them up to gluten too. It’s been a year and a half for me now since I went gluten free. Now at 40, I still almost giggle inside with every single step I take up or down those same stairs. I think to myself with each step, “That doesn’t hurt. That didn’t hurt, neither did that, and that doesn’t hurt either.” It’s such a trip for me. I love it. Still profoundly enlightened. You guys helped me a lot in my research. Thanks. Tadeu
Tadeu,
Awesome story! Thanks so much for sharing as I know someone will read your post and most likely find the strength to take action. Thanks for caring enough about others to share 🙂
All the best,
Dr. O
Hi,
I was wondering why remove rice. Isn’t rice a gluten free grain???
Eva,
Watch this video. It will explain for you in detail:
https://stg-gfsociety-testing.kinsta.cloud/video-tutorial/gluten-sensitivity-what-is-it/
What about stem cells therapy? it seems to fix, not just patch are diminish health problems. I have a friend who works for a Stem cells clinic in Mexico and she told me they have great results for many degenerative diseases! What are your thoughts?
What are the effects of gluten on asthma? I have a friend who has very bad asthma and I would like to give her some research info on eliminating gluten to help her asthma.
Hi Jeanne,
Great question! I would suggest reading this article on the relationship between gluten and asthma:
https://stg-gfsociety-testing.kinsta.cloud/does-gluten-intolerance-cause-asthma/
All the best,
Dr. Osborne
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2012. I was in severe, daily unrelenting body wide pain and had to go on FMLA. I did a lot of research and found an integrative medical doctor. I have created a regimen that works well in controlling my fibro symptoms and dietary changes are a part of my regimen. I follow a paleo diet and have been grain-free for two and a half years. Changing my diet has helped tremendously along with the other aspects of my regimen.
Hi Dr Osborne
I want to complement you on your site and spreading this important information.
I have studied nursing and Naturopathy and feel I never was trained adequately about nerve pain.
In short I have sustained a back injury with two herniated discs.
I now have chronic nerve pain for whicjh I take lyrica but also a high grade Turmeric and various herbs.
I have gone off gluten.
Will now try all grains as have long hx of thryroid hashimotos antibodies- always treated naturally. Never medicated to date.
I am interested if you recommend anything for nerve pain?
In best health
Megan
I am also interested in your thoughts about stem cell for disc regeneration?
I’m also interested in stem cell treatment for degenerative disk disease, bulging disk, and herniated disk. My daughter, who is only 36, suffers terribly from this debilitating disease. She’s been on prescription pain killers for 4-5 years now and has to have steroid injections every 3 months as well an occipital block every three months in her neck where she has had 2 disk replacements and a fusion just to survive. Please help!!!!!!!
KISS. Keep it simple. Something in your daughter’s body is attacking her. Her doctors do no know what. More important is that her treatment seems to be hurting her. Wheat could be the cause. I thought I needed to replace my sagging mattress because of back pain, stiff neck (I could hear the crunching noise whenever I moved my head. After sitting without moving my head for more than 5 minutes I had to use my hands to get it moving. I was taking 20 mg oral prednisone for fibromyalgia. I had sleep apnea, foot neuropathy and about a dozen other unrelated symptoms. After giving up wheat ALL of them went away. I DID NOT have to replace the bed. My prednisone is down to 5 mg a day. I was awake every two hours to pee (BPH I was diagnosed with 40 years ago) or for incredible heartburn, or pain in my back or neck. I’ve been wheat free 18 months now and sleep 8 hours straight and wake up with no pain and am amazed at how I can do stuff pain free. Contrary to what the food industry wants you to believe, Wheat is not sacrosanct and necessary for health. In my experience, once I stopped wheat and added an iodine supplement and vitamin D3 my body started healing itself. Just try it.
im sorry I am so busy but acetaminophen tylonal advil and alieve are okay for pain and magnesium for pain also I had a really good doctor
from Julie
Dr. Osborne,
I have an idea to increase the impact of your goal to educate
others. I am an inpatient now and have told several nurses/patient care techs about your knowledge and they were as enthusiastic as I am.
Do you see major turnaround with the diet senior citizens?
What does someone do to stay on the diet when hospitalized?
How does a senior gain weight or maintain and improve muscle mass on the diet?
I’ve not read your book yet. I’m not sure when I can get a copy. I’m going to rehab in a few days.
I’m glad to see your passion.