Concerning pain

Concerning your comments on pain:

"Now i have pain in all my joints, the only pain free areas are the space between mid thigh and ankle. The rest of my body is always sore at one time or another and even my sternum and the left side of my jaw become inflamed and painful. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE THOSE PARTICULAR SYMPTOMS?"

Sounds so much like me. When I have a flare, usually in the autumn, my jaws become inflamed. My jaws are about the only joint on me that will actually be red from the inflammation. I do have TMJD and that's probably why my Crohn's arthritis settles there sometimes. Crohn's arthritis can skip around to different joints, but my arthritis has settled into certain areas, most likely because I've had injuries and I'm probably dealing with osteoarthritis to boot.

I can barely sit on my rear in a chair anymore, which is why I have staid off my computer for most of two years, but some of that is nerve pain from surgery. Sitting in church on a bench (those cushions sink down to the hard oak underneath) is an exercise in suffering for me!

My jaw pain is the only pain that has caused me to take demerol (except when I've had surgery or such).

I can tolerate moderate levels of pain, but mine went past moderate about 6 years ago.

You are not alone!

Thanks JaSanne,
There is so much i don't know about CD but by listening to everyone on the forum, suddenly all the problems i have had start to make sense. I was diagnosed with UC for the last 28yrs and only recently diagnosed with CD. Since my first surgery 15yrs ago i have been waiting for the moment when all my symptoms would disapear, now i know why they didn't. Very glad to hear that all my joint pains and in particular the jaw pain can be attributed to CD. I have been telling them for years but nobody suggested that it was a symptom of IBD. My jaw is painful all the time now and is particularly painful, hot and sore to touch if i lie on the side of my face. Trying to open my mouth is really difficult and painful.
I was told a few years ago that i have osteoarthritis in my neck and lower back, and yes it is all so very much worse when my bowel is flaring, which is a lot of the time but to varying degrees. Wow, we all seem to suffer from the same group of symptoms, when your the one struggling, you feel like its just you, so its so good to realise your not alone. Well, thanks for your comments, you really have been helpful, makes me feel like going forward and pushing to make my life more comfortable. Speak soon. Teresa

Thanks for the comments all. My arthritis became my biggest source of misery about 7 years ago even though my gut is better at the moment than it ever has been. I'm grateful for that. I have ongoing muscle spasms and have to take a muscle relaxer (baclofen) daily, so sometimes I wonder if I'm not dealing with another autoimmune disease. Been tested for lupus, which was negative.

I love the easy chair in church idea! I started a stool movement at church when I brought a small Rubbermaid stool for my legs because of my back pain. I'm short and my feet don't touch the floor without it. This church, God bless them, ordered pews that are taller than average! Anyway, I was laughed at (so much for compassion), but eventually about half a dozen or so stools started popping up, mostly elderly ladies, so I'm not alone! Sometimes it pays to be willing to be laughed at. But I doubt I could get by with the lazy boy. I'd probably have everyone wanting to sit in it ;-)

I doubt God would mind that you needed some comfort. Bring a cushion to church!!!! Sit on it,Kneel on it!!!!!!