Joint pain

I need some help. I am in so much pain! The pain is in my lower and upper back and sides. Really, I just ache all over. I have been living on heating pads and pain pills. It is hard for me to get through the day. Is this a common thing with UC? What can I do to help it? Any advice or further information will be much appreciated. Thanks.

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-Dx with UC at 17 years old and I am now 22 years old with a serious flare up.

Unfortunately, yes. The Pred used to give me terrible joint pain, but it is a common side effect of UC. The Remi might help with the joint pain as it's also used for RA patients. It did help me quite a bit.

Are you on prednisone? If not..read my posts about this. Wondering if my joint pain may be related too.....lots of good posts from everyone re joint pain

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First off:
I have had three GIs since being diagnosed. One of them told me that I "must have developed arthritis not related to my UC and that a referral to a rheumatologist" was needed. The other two GIs have since told me that that assessment is a load of....horse hockey. Joint pain is a symptom of UC in many patients and can often be more painful and deabilitating (sp?) than the BMs.

My joint pains always precede major flares and sometimes persist (to a lesser degree) throughout the steroid courses. I remember nights of lying in bed writhing in pain with my knees and ankles swollen to the size of grapefruits and being purple in color. To this day, it is the worst pain I have ever experienced.

What worked for me:
My first GI put me on an Aleve regiment because it was the only OTC med that helped, but don't start one yourself without consulting your GI since NSAIDs can make intestinal bleeding worse. If my UC meds put me into remission, then I usually don't experience the joint pain.


Hope you find something that works! Don't give up on it!

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James

21 yrs old, diagnosed severe ulcerative pancolitis 2 Mar 2007
Hospitalized 27 Apr-5 May 2007; 16 Jun-22 Jun 2008
Asacol (mesalamine) 400 mg x 12 daily
Remicade <--first infusion on 3 May 2007
Imuran (azathioprine) 50 mg x 4 daily
Iron, Vit C, Vit D, Zinc, and seemingly always on Flagyl
Eating fruits and vegetables like there is no tomorrow...

Hmm I dont have joint swelling with my pains. Can you describe for us what your joint pain is like? Does it stay in one area, or migrate from place to place? Mine moves around and it can either be pulsating or quick stabbing. I am really looking forward to my colonoscopy and really hope to be confirmed w colitis so I can stop worrying about my joint pain....its horrible and I have had it for 7 wks

Jelly how long have you had your joint pain for?

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Im not even sure if it is joint pain to be honest. The pain stays in my back. It started just in my lower back and sides when I went into the hospital in January. Now it radiates to my upper back. It is hard to walk half the time. It is a throbbing and sharp pain. My doctor put my on oxycodone for the pain but I cannot take it all the time b/c it puts me to sleep. Regular pain meds do not even touch the pain. When I get home from work Im on heating pads all night. Could this back pain be considered joint pain? That's the only thing that makes me wonder if its not related to UC because it is in my back. Im trying to get advice from people Im around b/c I really do not want to revisit the doctor again. I have been on prednisone since January. I dont know if that has anything to do with it too.

Be sure to research prostate infections.........if you're a male.

I've had three prostate infections in the last two years(thanks UC) and the first one was the worst. Tons of back pain, nausea and other imbarasing symtoms.

If it were me I would get it checked out, I am kinda over the top that way. :) However, my lower back has definately been sore...

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Hi, when i am in flare my lower back hurts and i assumed it was bowel pain, now i'm having my remecade infusions i've been told i need to be off pred, i was only taking 5mg so i stopped on that day, It's been 4 weeks now and the pain in my ankles, feet and fingers is unbearable although i'm not in flare. I phoned my GI yesterday and she said it could be my body has stopped making it's own steroid called cortizal, I've got to go for blood test after another 4 weeks to confirm this, but this is the reason i am experiancing these terrible pains, have any of you had anything similar?
cheers
Mimbot

i don't know if methotrexate fits with uc, my father does not have uc but he developed rheumatoid arthritis
and the dr put him on methotrexate after a steroid course. he is much better!

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Mom to 19 year old daughter diagnosed 11/07.
colazal 3 x3 daily
purinethol 6mp=50mg daily
culturelle probiotic 2 daily
chewable vitamin
xifaxan antibiotic 400mg 2x day soon to be weaned-done
lo-estrin birth control pill for cramps started around 2003

I was having problems with my knees. I couldnt walk for long periods of time before they would begin to hurt. They also started to give out on me in the middle of walking,but once I got of the steriods I haven't had much trouble with them.

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-Dx with UC in 2003

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Joint pain can really be bad and make you miserable.  I have knee, back elbow and toe pains.  Along with neck pain.  I went to a rheumatologist a few years ago and he diagnosed me with migratory arthritis from UC.  He put me on a very low dose of prednisne which did help.  I just don't want to have to go thru life on it.  I haven't been back to him but I do tell my GI about it.  Just one of the perks with IBD.  I hope you feel better soon. 

Stacy