Joint pain, please help!

Hi guys,

Its been forever since i have written here.  My chrons and its effect on my stomach has been much better since my 2 weeks on iv steroids in the hosptal in January.  But man what a roller coaster it was to get off everything.  I have been back on Colozal since about April just because i know i need to stay on something.  However, i am almost in agony daily with many joints.  Its hips, knees, wrists, low back, and sometimes other places too.  I am an avid exerciser which isnt helping me but easing off doesnt help either.  Do you guys suggest any (easy to tolerate) medicine?  Maybe instead of the colozal something that offers pain relief?  I was on remicade and refuse to go back on that or steroids.  I just get so achy its hard to function at times.  I cant even sit/stand at my sons football games for more than an hour as i begin to throb.  Oh, i did try ibuprofen and it helped for a few weeks but then it too lost its effect.  I also have kidney problems so it wasnt the best for me.  Thanks for any advice.

Yes i agree you need to see a rheumy doctor. I have crohn's and osteoarthritis and RA arthritis. I do pain meds for the arthritis's.

Jusdebbie, I also have very bad joint pain, which my rheumy and GI just say is Crohn's related arthritis and we are having a very hard time finding something to help that won't hurt my stomach.  We tried other NSAIDs, steroids, Crohn's meds, etc. since the ultracet isn't taking care of it anymore, but nothing helps the joints and all of it hurts my stomach or gives me ulcers.  I am scheduled right now to get cortisone shots in my ankles again, which helped for a little while last time. 

I am going to ask my rheumy about Lidoderm patches because I tried some before and they seemed to help a lot, but they are just limited to whatever area you put them on.  Still, I think that will be better than taking meds that make me sick. 

As much as it hurts starting out, once I get through about 20 minutes of pilates, it seems like it helps loosen everything up.  I was also an avid exerciser but have really had to cut back (almost completely) lately, which is killing me.  Do what you can, but take it easy on your joints, and maybe that will loosen everything up without doing more harm.    

Some people find that eating a small knob of ginger every day helps. It is also thought that boosting your intake of GLAs through seeds etc can help.

For instance, you could drink some ginger tea or eat some candied ginger for a snack each day, and throw some ground LSA on your breakfast cereal.

But yes, I agree with the others, it would be good if you could get to see a rheumatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

I.

My Rhuemy has tried all the arthritis type drugs on me. They caused gastritis, so those are out. He would love it if one of my GI's would put me on a biologic, but technically my CD isn't active enough. They don't consider the joint issues to be active CD, even though the Rhuemy does. So his only option left was acupuncture. I was a wicked skeptic, but it wasn't something that was going to cause any long term harm and so I gave it a shot. It took a few sessions before there was any benefit and if I miss a week, I notice it, but it does help. It is only a stabilization thing, not a treatment. It gives me some relief as long as I keep it up, but if I am away or miss a treatment because I'm too busy, I slide backward. My insurance doesn't cover it either, so it can be costly.

I do go to a community clinic, which is cheaper than individual treatment, but less private. That is a personal choice. You can do a web search for community acupuncture clinic and see if there is one in your area. The cost at the one I go to is a sliding scale based on how often you go $15 - $35 a session. I go once a week and pay $15. Which for me is just a little more than a co-pay would be. Plus, I get to sit down for an hour and take a nap. which is bliss!

I have joint pain in my hips and knees that comes on pretty bad sometimes. I have a Rx for celebrex. I only take 1 pill as needed. If I'm going to be exercising (I run or ride a bike) I take one preemptively to ward off the pain I know will come. My GI said that since it's COX-II the damage to the gut is minimal, if any. Yes, COX-II's have warnings and some have been pulled. But that was for people taking them at excessive doses. I don't have much concern about that, and it's never affected my Crohn's but works very well on the joints.

I have some of the patches here at home. Actually, last spring I got triggerpoints when I picked up the physical activity. My pain doc said cutting a patch in half works on the triggerpoints. I don't know about for joint pain. I take CElebrex like Beta but I doubt its that helpful against CD arthritis ( It does help the Osteo though, so it has some uses..). I've tried many RX NSAIDS, most I couldn't tolerate or didn't work.
I've tried Capcaisin(sp?) products years ago for the CD joint pain & they made my pain worse. I've also experimented with Glucsomine/Chondritin products with mixed results.
All this being said is what helps or hurts me might NOT do the same for you.. BTW, I saw a Rheumy who treated my CD arthritis. Why won't yours????

Matthew

I was on remicade for the CD and i truly think as much as i hated it, it did help the pain.  However, i am not going back on that again.  I tried acupuncture but maybe i didnt give it enough of a chance.  I might try (sp?) Reiki next or possibly accupressure.  Im not fond of needles or side effects if you can tell!

If I have a really BAD arthritis flare from my CD, I will consider the Remicade, though my insurance might be an issue..
More likely they'd put me on Methotrexate though. I'm not looking forward to either med!

Matthew