Imuran/ joint and muscle pain

Hi everyone,

hope everyone is feeling well today.

Firslty i just have to say how much this forum has been of tremendous help and support to me. i have had Crohns disease for 2 years now and have been symptom free. i have eaten anything i wanted, including dairy and junk food, which i couldnt help!

At times i have been tired due to anemia/ b12 etc but lately i have severe joint pain which started off as muscle pain. im a worried person normally, but it hasnt affected my bowels at all, just irritating pain in back, neck wrists fingers ankles and knees! can anyone give me advice as to what helps with joint pain? or who i need to see. i have had a thyroid test, lupus test, arthritis and glucose test, crp test everything! i wanted answers and i have none

i am on 100mg of imuran and have been for 2 years..

xxxxxx

thank you for your response!
my family told me it was just all in my head, but i knew i was feeling weak accompanied with muscle and joint pain. im only 23 and i play heaps of sport and have done so for most of my life... so its hard to realise i may have to give it up although when i play netball etc, the joint pain doesnt bother me???? its strange. im hoping it will pass, but my specialist is expecting me nxt week, so he better be ready for a million questions! i havent got depression chronic fatigue, lupus, thyroid, diabetes etc! so im so worried about going back on steroids.. id do anything to avoid it.

may the specialist reduce my imuran? has anyone else had to reduce thier meds??

sorry about the million questions, im sooo worried!

xxx

elroque, sorry to butt in, but you didn't say whether or not the Humira helps your joint/muscle pain. I am on 40mg of Humira weekly and alternating daily doses between 50-100mg of the Imuran (can't tolerate any more of the Imuran because I become toxic). Anyway, over the last 3 months my joint/muscle pain has increased and is pretty much described as melissahs. I have my first Rhemy visit on the 21st and the GI has done all my bloodwork including ANA and AS....so we'll see. Your specific input on the Humira/Imuran would be most helpful.

Whoops! Sorry about that broomhilda-I left the most important things out. The 100 mgs of Imuran daily (50 mg in the morning and 50 mg in the night) helped with some of my other symptoms but it was not effective on the arthritis at all. I have been on it since November and though it has helped sort of control my other issues my GI was not satisfied with its results with the arthritis and that is when he put me on Humira. After my initial does of Humira which was 160 mg (4 injections) in one day, I saw some significant difference with the arthritis. Namely, I no longer had that constant pain, my joint were not stiff and I could actually get out of bed, step into the bathtub, etc. without manuevering some type of crazy acrobatics since I had been unable to bend anything. For that week after the initial dose I actually got the best sleep of my life since all this started (though it was short lived because now I wake up multiple times a night after having the craziest and most vivid dreams/nightmares so that sucks) I am now on 40 mgs of Humira every other week (that is all my insurance approved) and the Imuran. Though I have to say my quality of life has greatly improved I still get bouts of arthritis that no matter what I take still persists. For that reason I am also on Ultracet for those type of instances with pain. I still have some problems with some pain and stiffness and lack of mobility with my knees and lower back but at least it is not my entire body which was how it used to be. Before I could not walk, I could not grab onto anything because all the joints in my arms, hands and fingers were swollen and painful. I also had severe pain in my neck, upper back, lower back, hips and was basically swollen everywhere. Fortunately for me, the Humira has been working well.

I am also on a daily dose of Celebrex (400 mgs a day-200 in the morn and 200 in the evening). This has worked wonders for me in regards to the swelling due to the arthritis. I know that it is not a fave for others with IBD's because it can be irritable to the stomach but I have not had that problem at all. Unfortuntately, I need to take the two 200 doses in the morning and night becuase once I lower it I begin swelling up especially around my wrists and ankles. Again, Celebrex has also worked very well for me and I will continue using it since it has been so effective. It was originally prescribed to me by my Rhemy and then my GI has continued to prescribe it since I no longer see my Rhemy due to being diagnosed with Crohns and the arthritis being a direct symtpom of that.

BTW broomhilda, what do you mean the Imuran makes you toxic? What exactly happens to you?

Oh and mel? Dont worry about whining. It is OK. Sometimes we just need an outlet for our frustrations and we all know that having this illness is VERY frustrating. I know what you mean about being well for so long them getting a crazy flare up with crazy symptoms. It is a craaaazy roller coaster ride.

elrouqe- I am one of the few genetically speaking who can't tolerate the normal dosages of Imuran.
My liver can not process higher doses so therefore it becomes a toxic drug for me. I believe with my Humira and the Imuran (being dosed at the normal levels), my CD would be sooooo much easier to control and possibly I would see remission. Unfortunately at the lower dosages of Imuran this is not the case for me.