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Gabapentin and Crohn's arthritis

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/13/2014 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
I do not post often on here but want to run something by you ...

Background - Dx with Crohn's in 2010, Fibro in 2011. Sacroilitis in 2012. Working with the Mayo and several local doctors because I continue to have severe episodes of Crohn's arthritis. Death in the family plus severe cold in Midwest has brought about a flare. Mayo refers back to primary and rheumy for inflammation of arthritis. Decision is to put me back on Prednisone and hang tight for a new drug set to be released for Crohn's in June. Local PCP has told me to " deal with it", "move to a warmer climate", etc. I have been treated like it is wrong to want to be out of pain.

Yesterday, I consulted with a new PCP for many reasons. Went through all of my issues and medications. She doesn't think I should just have to deal with pain and wants me to add Gabapentin to my medications. I go over concerns and she explains that it should work.

I tend to get overwhelmed and forget to ask questions. Today I did some research on the med and it doesn't have any indications for Crohn's.

My question is- does anyone have any experience from this med? Is there no actual help for Crohn's arthritis?

Thank you in advance for your input.
Christine
Posted 2/13/2014 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
I've had a lot of improvement from sulfazine, but I think you might be intolerant of mesalamines? Don't remember. I've also seen some improvement from following a gluten free diet.
Posted 2/13/2014 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
I updated my signature but it didn't take. I apologize. I am on sulfasalazine. We tried again and I got some relief but this winter has been bad. The latest flare sent my joints into a tailspin. I have tried GF in the past but joints did not get relief. I continue to have quite a bit of inflammation in several joints.
Posted 2/13/2014 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Up your dose of sulfazine? I think pred is a reasonable option. I think the last time you were posting you were wheelchair bound?

The good news with Crohn' related arthritis is that there is no permanent damage done to joints.

I live in TX so cold weather is not really an issue, but I have had random flare-ups of joint pain associated with hormonal cycles and viral infections. It sucks.
Posted 2/13/2014 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
I use a wheelchair on my severe days and a walker on my good days..sulfasalazine is maxed out..it is seeming like pred was a good choice. Texas sounds good right now.

Still interested to hear if anyone has heard of gabapentin being used for Crohn's? It seems like an odd choice.
Posted 2/13/2014 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
I take a total of 1800 mg of gabapentin daily. It was prescribed to try and squash the neuropathy symptoms. I was pleasantly surprised that it has helped a lot with my SI joint pain. As for helping Crohn's I don't know. When I started on it I was in a big flare. The gabapentin constipated me. I went from 10-14 days diarrhea events daily to having so much difficulty going I needed laxatives. As my body adjusted to the med it wasn't as constipating. Then I went on Remicade and that put my guts in remission.

Also, if you have been diagnosed with sacroiliitis, then you should be getting more relief from the Humira. Are you sure it is working well enough? Do you see a rheumatologist? My rheumy basically got me out of the wheelchair, put the walker in the closet - and out functioning! Do you have lots of SI pain? Have you ever had your SI joints injected with steroids?

Sorry for all the questions. I take Simponi, another anti-TNF med, for the SI and other joint issues. It seems to have kept the CD at bay also. If I have an arthritis flare, my rheumy gives me a steroid shot IM and then a fast taper over a week to get it under control. For pain I take Tramadol during the day if needed, and at night I have Vicodin if needed.
Posted 2/13/2014 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
I am happy to answer all of the questions. I have been diagnosed with Sacroilitis as well but I am not receiving relief from Humira. GI doc doesn't understand as I have also developed uveitis. They know they need to change my med and feel that the one coming out in June, Vedolizumab, may help but they are unsure. I am also working with a Rheumy..most days I can use the walker.. but here lately I have had to use the wheelchair because of pain and having a difficult time walking. I am not functioning well and have struggled on and off and my case frustrates the doctors. They feel bad for me but my body isn't being very cooperative. My SI pain has been increasing. I see the rheumy again in March and she is has told me she is considering injections.

That is great the Simponi is working for you, I have not had that one yet. I have been on Imuran, Remicade, Methotrexate and now Humira. GI Doc is not happy that humira is failing me. Tramadol gave me seizures and vicodin doesn't seem to work.

Thank you for sharing your gabapentin experience. I do not have peripheral neuropathy so kind of surprised but if it helped your SI joint then maybe it is worth a try!!
Posted 2/13/2014 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Have you been doing any physical therapy? Muscle stiffness in the lower back and hamstrings can make SIs hurt beyond what might be happening in the joint itself.
Posted 2/14/2014 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on as much as 1600mg of gabapentin as well as 300mg of Lyrica (which is a cousin of gabapentin) and I've had issues with both. Neither has helped with my joint pain that I can tell (that's not why I was taking either one, but my joints have been killing me lately). I had the lovely side effect from Lyrica of feeling like I had been hit by a bus at a higher dose, so I now take 150mg/day.

With the gabapentin, I am also pretty sure it has caused constipation issues (it's hard to tell which meds are causing issues... I think Remicade is constipating me a ton as well), but I still really bad constipation, bad enough to need near daily laxatives in order to not get impacted. I had to come down in dosage because I could barely function at 1600mg--I mainly had significant lightheadedness, but felt out of it generally, had a hard time concentrating, forgot words (which is tough when you're a professor). I was supposed to be on 2400mg/day but there was no way that was happening. I stayed at 1200mg for quite some time, then 800mg; I've decided to try and get off it because I see no benefit from it, so I've gone down to 400mg (all of this has happened over months).

Note that I am really sensitive to meds, so I don't think most people have so many side effects. Unfortunately though, these meds aren't doing a ton for my pain that I can tell (or they are and I just have *a lot* of pain!).
Posted 2/14/2014 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am also highly sensitive to medications which is why we have so many problems finding the right ones..they want me on both Lyrica and Gabapentin as well. I am just not sold on it because I am nervous about adding another med that doesn't have any anti-inflammatory...
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