Is this detox?

[April22]

Hi. Three days ago, I converted from an ordinary American diet to 100% raw, and this morning I woke up with aching legs and an aching lower back (sacrum area). This is not sciatica--had that when I was pregnant and what I feel now feels very different than that. I am actually in a lot of pain. I am a runner, and, except for a few extra pounds, I am really fit. Also, I am 33, which I consider to be young. I am used to pain, but this is like nothing I have ever experienced before. My muscles and joints just ache, and I haven't run in a couple days.

Could it be that I am just detoxing? Please say yes. It will make me feel better. Better yet, if any one could hypothesize an explanation (no matter how scientifically or unscientifically grounded), I would be so very grateful. I am new to this way of life, and therefore so thirsty for information.

[Revvell]

Could it be that I am just detoxing?

Absolutely. I went through some severe joint pain.. Started in my ankles, up into my hips, elbows, wrists... couldn't get up and walk in the a.m.'s... most of it went away fairly quickly... the elbows/wrists was a bit of a problem for quite some time. I was doing a lot of hands-on bodywork and my hands and arms would fall asleep. Had to get very creative at times.

[April22]

Thanks, Revvell. I feel better now about this pain, which is starting to go away. Just having an understanding that it very likely could be detox helps a lot.

[Clare]

Not sure about this explanation, but, I have read that candida (which we all naturally have some of) lives throughout our tissues when it's overgrown. When a bunch of it dies, it releases more toxins than usual, and this can cause pain that jumps around the body. I know that when I was on nystatin for yeast a few years back, I had pretty severe pains up and down my arms like nothing I'd had before. THis repeated itself a couple months ago on my first week of raw!

[April22]

It was cramps! I had tremendous pain in my lower back that radiated down and around my legs (not straight down the hamstrings like in sciatica), and it was just cramps. They are gone now, and I am grateful for that! I have heard of women calling sick into work for cramps, and I was always like, "yeah, right, sure ... go exercise it away"--totally cynical and skeptical. But, OMG! Now I get it! Through it all I stayed as close to 100% raw as possible, and I am glad I did because I feel great today.

Is it common to feel pain and other sensations more intensely during detox? I am going around my house like a dog, sniffing my way through it, because the world just smells different. Every room has its own smell. My little son, who is sick with a fever, smells very bad to me right now even though he is basically clean. This is such a trip!

[April22]

Thanks for your replies, by the way.

[Maui Girl]

I am a runner too. Same thing happened to me too. Go for a light run and it will help get all the toxic slow moving food out of you. Hope you feel better soon.