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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/21/2009 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
I have what appears to be an arthritis knob on one of my knuckles. What I would like to know is:

Is it RA that causes joint and finger distortions?
Is this common with Crohn's or only as a side effect of meds?
Is it permanent?

I have an appointment with my GP middle of next month but all that not knowing stuff applies here so any answers would help. Thanks in advance.

btw did you notice all the "kn" words I got in here?
Posted 11/21/2009 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I've never gotten knobs or distortions, but have had bad "arthritic" pain in my joints. My GE said it's similar to RA, but caused by CD attacking the joints. It's not permanent, at least not for me.
Posted 11/21/2009 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks GDen,

I had post surgical spinal arthritis before Crohn's so I'm wondering if this is the real RA.
Posted 11/21/2009 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
When I'm having issues with my CD, my joints tend to give me issues, too. Typically, it isn't too bad (mainly stiffness) but when there's a front moving through, it's pretty painful.
Posted 11/21/2009 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Yup I've had that before, had a very large 'knob' on my right forefinger on the middle knuckle when I had a bad arthritis flare in my wrists and hands, was so irritating as the movement was so limited. Even after my arthritis flare went into remission it took a couple of months before that knuckle went back to normal and got its full range of movement back. The arthritis I have is the reactive/Crohn's arthritis, good news is it doesn't cause lasting damage to the joints like RA can. Theres tests they can do determine what kind of arthritis you have, ideally you should see a rheumatologist who can arrange for all this testing to be done and any necessary treatment.
Posted 11/21/2009 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks lilcrohnie, now I can go to my GP appointment with some hope of a good outcome. I suspected that was what a rheumatologist was for, I'm sure I'll walk out of my GPs office with a referral. I've been exercising my fingers several times a day and so far I haven't lost any range of motion but it doesn't feel great.

pimfram, I know what that's like big time, through my whole spine. I really don't like weather changes.
Posted 11/21/2009 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
AzJohnny:

The rheumy is probably the best person to see about this. They diagnose IBD related arthritis by ruling other things out, in particular lupus and RA (for RA, they look at both the RF, and anti-CCP). If negative for both lupus and RA, at least in our experience, they call it IBD related arthritis. The treatment is pretty much the same as for crohn's (or RA), and one of the first things they want you to try is MTX.

Also, MRIs can be useful in visualizing the joint, to see if there are any degenerative changes, to see if there's some osteoarthritis going on as well.

Our rheumy basically wanted to rule out osteoarthritis in the joint, RA, and lupus before proceeding with treatment. She said that if RA was positive, she'd want to treat it aggressively before it can do permanent damage. But with IBD related arthritis, she said we have more time to bring the flare under control, because rarely does IBD related arthritis cause permanent joint damage.

I hope you're just having a touch of crohn's related arthritis, if anything. Keep us posted.

PV
Posted 11/21/2009 9:42 AM (GMT 0)
During my first flare my ankle got pretty swollen and purple, was very sore/sensitive/stiff, and obviously I could barely walk on it (used a cane or walker). The hospital took several xrays of it, looking for breaks or fractures I think. Days later an orthopedist looked at it, and also drew joint fluid to test for infection. He said he was stumped. I've never been to a rheumatologist, but sounds like they'd be more helpful. As bad a my ankle was, twelve hours after they started pred I was able to walk on it pretty well. But it took about a couple of months before it was 100%. During that flare I also got joint pain in my knee, hip, wrist, and fingers, but all to significant lesser degrees.
Posted 11/21/2009 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
I think it is a good idea to see a Rheumatologist. I have Osteoarthritis myself (thanks Pred) and I have no knobs like that on my fingers. Best to get checked to make sure its not RA. I too hope its just the reactive arthritis of Crohns. Keep us posted.

Hugs
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 11/22/2009 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the info and good wishes. I won't see my GP (and probably get that referral) until mid December. I get to worry about it for a couple more weeks! Ain't Crohn's fun!?
Posted 11/22/2009 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Granuloma annulare?  I had bumps on my knuckles some years back.  The doctor told me it was Granuloma annulare.  When I read the definition of this disease it doesn't seem quite right to me.  Prednisone made them go away I think.  They normally did not hurt but when I banged one just right it really smarted.    
Posted 11/22/2009 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm I'm not sure CrazyColitis, the arthritis in my wrists was officially diagnosed with an orthopaedic ultrasound and my sacroilliitis was with an MRI, they showed me the images and the inflammation was quite obvious (they were black and white images and the inflamed areas were bright white) but bloodtests and the nature of my arthritis are definitely reactive/Crohn's and not RA (phew!)
I think if nothing showed up demand more tests, inflammation should show on something! But my docs gave me a pretty certain diagnosis just from looking at my joints and my bloodtests way before I had any scans (probably because MRIs etc cost the NHS a fortune lol)
Posted 11/23/2009 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Don't some of the medications cause joint pains too? There was a period of time that I could barely walk which I think was from immuran but I am not certain.
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