am I just panicking?

hey. I have been feeling great. but lately one of my shoulders has been bothering me, so of course I am freaking out that I am getting arthritis from UC. But the thing is that bad shoulders run in my family genetically, so much so in fact that one of my sisters used to be a serious cyclist and had to quit because cycling constantly popped her shoulder out of the socket. and I swim a lot, and was swimming even more in the fall to try to stay sane when I was on prednisone, so I work my shoulders pretty hard, so the rational part of me knows that a few weeks off swimming will likely fix this. but, because I am still adjusting to having this disease, I always assume that the tiniest problem is UC. I know rationally that I should just stop swimming, take a few breaths, and relax, but especially after reading the posts on here about joint pains I am totally worries. so, I guess I was just hoping for some words of encouragement, to remind me that even though we all have UC we can also be normal people with normal health problems also. thanks for any pleasant, calming thoughts..... :) ... I am such a freak about my health!

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30/Female/NC
Pancolitis dx 3/07
9 Colazal a day (was on 12 Asacol/day, but suddenly got sick from it)
150mg Imuran/day (steroid dependent, reached this dose 9/07)
Rowasa in PM (is working wonders for me thus far)
Various vitamins, bit of fish oil, a probiotic.
Getting married October, 2008!!!!

Hi, I also have pain in one shoulder which gets worse after each dose of pred then when I am pred free it gradually gets better over the following months although does not completely disappear. It seems to seize up for instance if I am lying watching tv resting my head on my arm it's really sore to start moving again but once mobile it's ok. Goodness knows what it is all I know is it started after my first dose of pred and every dose since has made it worse.

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32 year old female

I have bursitis in both shoulders and it comes and goes. It usually bugs me when it gets really cold out... I can always tell when it's going to snow : ) It also bugs me when I over do yardwork, etc.

If it really bugs you, get it checked it. That way you don't have to worry needlessly.

I'm not sure if UC'ers experience more pain or if we are just more fine tuned to notice it more due to the UC.

What would you do if you had pain and didn't have UC?

Remember, steroids can cause avascular necrosis, and one place it appears is in the shoulders. You might want to get checked out by a rheumy or ortho to be sure it isn't something serious.

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I think you are freaking out.  I put myslef through college on a swimming scholarship and I still have trouble with my shoulder.  Last year went back to the sports med dr and got some therapy exercises.  If I start hurting again, I just do the exercises.  It may be worth your time to see a PT. 

Also, I know how you feel.....I think this disease has made me so much more aware of my body to the point that I now feel like a hypocondriac.  But, I really do think it is just an overuse problem, and it will clear up with a little rest, and possibly some strength exercises.

Hi..i've always had problems with my shoulders/joints/back/neck since I was a kid....but it's not helped having repetative strain injury.

Do get it checked out for sure for confirmation and find out what you can do to maintain strength in it.

Try not to imagine everything is UC related....some of us just have "falling apart bodies"...lol.

Do you see a chiropractor? It's helped me immensely.....I can at least function and work.

quincy

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