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Inflammatory Arthritis

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/14/2008 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
I've been out of work a week now with a bad Crohn's flare.  I've Crohn's for 10 years now. Basically have been drug free the past 7 years.  I've been doing really well keeping the Crohn's in remission with just little flares here and there. I take Cipro for those and it gets me back on track.   Well last week my joints started bothering me and my right knee filled with fluid.  It got where I could barely walk. Went to see a Rheumatologist yesterday. He took fluid from me knee and had it sent to lab for testing.  They also wanted to check it for Crystals to make sure it wasn't Gout.  I also went for xrays of both knee's, ankles, and pelvic area. 

Well my Crohn's doctor called me today and looked up all my test. No crystals found so I don't have gout.  He said my knee and one ankle have sever arthritis.  So I have Inflammatory Arthritis due to having the Crohn's diases.  :-(  

I'm glad to know what it is though and finally have answers.  But its still hard to swallow.  I'm only 36 years old and now not only have Crohn's but arthritis.  I know it could be a lot worse believe me.  But it still stinks a little ya know? 

So I guess me question is, I know we have others here dealing with arthritis as well.  What works for you to handle both the Crohn's and Arthritis?   I've been on the Cipro now for a week, have one week to go.  My crohn's doctor wants me to continue taking it.

He's going to call me back later and let me know what else he's putting me on.  He said I need to be on something that is control both of them.   My crohn's is getting better here but my joints are still killing me. :-(

Posted 5/14/2008 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
LBJ,

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease 34 years ago. I began having problems with arthritis 5 years ago and was diagnosed with RA. I had severe swelling in my hands, wrists, fluid on my left knee, swelling and joint pain in my feet. I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at this time. I was having a flare with my CD and the arthritis at the same time. My rheumatologist started me on Remicade, but I had to quit because of severe reactions. I was also taking pentasa, imuran, predisone, methotrexate and probably some other meds at the time. Eventually I need a resection in 2006. I did fine after the resection for about 3 months, then my arthritis pain came back with a vengence and I was also having a CD flare.

My gastro started me on Humira 40mg every other week. I have been injecting since 04/07. This has controlled by CD, but I still have terrible arthritis pain. My previous Rheumy has left and I had to begin seeing a new one and he says my arthritis is related to my CD and is not RA. My gastro docotor says the blood work and symptoms indicate RA and the Humira should be helping.

I do not deal with the arthritis pain very well. I am currently taking Lortab 10mg 3 X a day for pain. I am also taking Prozac for depression.

I wish I had an answer, but I don't. I am really tied of dealing with the pain and the CD.

Keep you chin up!!!
Posted 5/14/2008 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
My IBD arthritis started at 33 or 34. This is not unusual at all. Please remember most kinds of Arthritis are not age dependant at all.

Matthew
Posted 5/14/2008 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
The biologics are probably your best bet as far as dealing with both diseases at the same time. Also of cource if you are flaring pred will tackle both.
Sj
Posted 5/15/2008 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Maggie Lou . . . some meds (imuran?) can make the ANA RH factor go negative. So you might pull out your old blood work and show it to your new rheumy. There may be a difference in the way they treat the arthritis depending on what is causing it. Just a thought. I take plaquenil for my arthritis. But the crohn's is a new issue for me . . . so I'm not sure how the rheumy will deal with things at my next appointment. I had to stop taking ibuprofen but my joints haven't been bad for several months anyway. I'm watching this topic too to see what chrohn's folks can do for arthritis. Blessings!
Posted 5/15/2008 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
LBJ . . . sorry you are having a hard time with the arthritis. *sigh* I hope you'll update us when you get word from your doctor. Let us know how the treatment works too. Blessings!
Posted 5/15/2008 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
LBJ - sorry you are having joint problems. My CD started with arthritis 24 years ago. I didn't have any bowel symptoms at all. My CD was diagnosed by my Rheumy. I have fought the arthritis monster almost non stop. Had a little relief after my resection 20 years ago. The only thing that seems to help the arthritis is predisone. I've been on it numerous tiimes for flairs. I finally can't take the pain in my knees anymore. I am scheduled for my first knee replacement in two weeks. I plan to have the other one replaced as soon as I can. I have had 9 surgeries on my hands and wrists. I have a lot of trouble with trigger fingers. My fingers also do better with pred. So far I've been able to avoid the bios. My GI keeps bringing it up and I keep putting him off. I've also developed a hiatal hernia which seems to be quite bothersome at this time. I feel like I have an obstruction but I don't want to deal with it until after my new knee. I am currently taking Pentasa, Celebrex ( for arthritis ) Diovan (high blood pressure) Wellbutrin and Lexapro (Depression) and Lunesta for sleep. I have pain meds ( vicodin and darvocet ) for my arthritis. My last big flair was in November of 2007. I was on Prednisone for 4 months. Since then the crohn's is about as good as it gets. Still D everyday. Thank goodness I don't have to work. My husband does that for me. My GI says the arthritis and Crohn's go together. When one flairs they both do. But in the past few years the arthritis has been all the time. I can only take the Celebrex for a short time without having a flair and am hoping to make it to my knee surgery without a flair. If you can take the Celebrex, it really seems to help. It does more for my arthritis than anything else. Only problem is it seems to put me in a flair after about 4 - 6 weeks. I have the same problem with all NSAID's. I hope things go better for you. I'm really not much help. I think I really just needed to vent.

Hope this finds you feeling well

God Bless,

Judsi24
Posted 5/15/2008 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
LBJ I am sorry to hear you are not feeling that great right now. I have lived for 34 years with CD and 24 of them with AS (Ankylosysing Spondylitis) and Uveitis. I have taken every new drug on the market except Humira. They all will help both your CD and arthritis. If you don`t find releif from them the drug you are taking is not the right for you; or, you may need a differnt drug.

Shoshanna
Posted 5/15/2008 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
LBJ...I feel your pain...1st Rheumy visit on the 21st myself. ANA, AS & RF results will be waiting for me too as my GI has already run the preliminary bloodwork for him. Sigh.
Posted 5/15/2008 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear that you're not feeling well. I've had Crohn's for 16 years, was diagnosed when I was 26 and pretty much had joint pain from the get go. I was told that this was Crohn's related. It is really hard to deal with emotionally when you're young. I went back on Remicade for my CD last year and while the Remicade is not as effective for my Crohn's anymore, it's great for the ankylosing spondylitis.

Good luck!

Robin
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