Body Aches All Over

I have had UC for about 3 years now. My current medicines this year have given me some unpleasant side effect. I was put on Imuran a few months ago while I was still weaning off of prednisone, a few weeks later I got the shingles virus and went through alot of pain. My UC is under control now.I am currently feeling just plain bad (fatiqued & achey). Every muscle is my body aches especially my legs. I had to quit taking Imuran, until they can give me the shingle virus vacine. That has been a month ago, I am still weaning off of prednisone at 2.5mg everyday now. Has anyone had this kind of pain ? Could this be the result of weaning off of prednisone?

Current Medicines

Colazal - 3 X 3 times a day

Rowasa - 1 nightly

Canasa - Alternate with  Rowasa

Prednisone 2.5 mg a day

Herbs

Natures Sunshine - Food Enzymes

Natures Sunshine - Intestinal Smooth and Build

Natures Sunshine - CLT-X

Thank you MNBeachgal for your response. My symptoms really scare me at times. I have heard so many things bad about Prednisone that I hope it does not damage other things. I also was hurting real bad (muscle wise) when I was taking a higher dose. I am just surprised that since I am almost off of it now, that I hurt just as bad now as I did then. I did not expect that.
I wish you the best with this disease.

I get a lot of muscle and lower back painto at the moment am also getting low aching stomach i put it down to the U/C as i am not on any pred i was on pred foam but finished about 3wks ago i find heat pads or a hot bath helps good luck hope you feel better soon

I've had something similar, went off second round of prednisone several months ago. My primary had me take a blood test to show my Vitamin D levels and other things, and wouldn't you know they were in the dangerously low levels, whatever that means. So I'm not on a regular multivitamin, four Calcium pills daily and a vitamin D prescription weekly. It seemed to help the achy-ness a lot.

I mentioned this all to my GI and she said my primary is "fond" of testing people's vitamin D levels and it likely wasn't related to my illness. Maybe not, but I'm glad the primary thought of it.

Maybe you should suggest this to your doc?

I was diagnosed with Crohn's at the age of 55 after suffering with bleeding for months before. After the first year, the low level drugs I was taking had to be increased because my condition continued to get worse (a couple of hospital stays involved). Once I was put on Asacol (1600mg/day) and Prednisone (30mg/day), the bleeding stopped. But I experienced a flare up that put me in the hospital about 6 months ago. I had Azathioprine (Imuran) added to my drugs (100mg/day). After a few months I was doing so well, the doc had me taper off the Prednisone at -2.5mg each week. Once my Pred. got down to about 7.5mg/day I stared experiencing "some" muscle aches in my feet, hips and knees. The lower the steroids got, the stronger the aches in my joints which grew to include my shoulders, elbows, wrists and fingers and somewhat in my upper spine area. Thinking it was just coming off of the Prednisone after being on it for a year, I waited before going back to the doctor.
At first I thought I was coming down with Fibromyalgia because the symptoms are very similar. However, after reading everything I can read on this (from people with much the same drugs that I have been on), it does seem that the Azathioprine is the likely culprit.
The Prednisone kept my existing ulcers from bleeding and the Asacol and Azathioprine (Imuran) have kept new ulcerated incidents from occuring. Twice before using Azathioprine when I tried coming off of the Prednisone, I experienced bleeding and those associated problems. After about 4 months of being on Asathioprine, I was able to phase out Prednisone with no recurrence of bleeding, etc. "If" it weren't for the severe aches in my muscles/tendons around my joints, I would feel great!
I am not sure if this will continue as long as I keep taking the Azathioprine. I am using Vicodin (Hypercodone) as needed to get through the pain. I typically have to take 1-2 tablets at a time and as many as 3 or 4 per day.
My family doctor was unfamiliar with Azathioprine and the side effects like those I am experiencing. And my gastro. said he had not seen patients experience this level of joint aches/pains after coming off Prednisone. (We both feel that Prednisone was masking or hiding the pain until I came off of it.) Nevertheless, he wants me to stay on the Azathioprine to avoid my coming out of remission. For now I'll keep taking the Asacol, Azathioprine as prescribed and take the Hypercodone as needed to get through the pain. I am hoping the joint pain will eventually subside or even go away.

Hello everyone,

Sorry I was gone so long. Computer was being worked on.  Last week I was suppose to see my primary doctor to get vaccinated for the shingle virus. But he called in sick to his nurse; she also said he would be out all next week. So now I am schedule for my vaccine Monday, July 28th. I cannot take Imuran again until I have this vaccine, then I will have to wait for two more weeks to get Imuran. In the meantime after having all this muscle and joint pain all over especially my legs which felt like a tooth ache... it was constant. I decided to go to the Convenience Care Center and get help. Word of advice... after taking Naproxen (anti inflammatory)for two day I started bleeding. My doctors never told me not to take an anti inflammatory. Please be careful here.  Also had a reaction to Tramadol (moderate pain reliever)  I had a migrane headache with vomiting and nausea. Now I am just putting up with the joint and muscle pain. Hope everyone is doing well today