Joint Pain

I have joint pain in my hands and my sternum right now. Started in my hands so bad I had difficulty falling asleep. Then couple weeks later moved to my sternum. Whats weird is that it can be real bad and then ease a few minutes later. And my bowels are under control. New to the disease so I don't have too much history.

If you are having joint pain while not in a flare, you should get checked out for arthritis. Uc'ers are more prone to certain types of arthritis then the normal population.

Is the sternum a common place to have joint pain with UC? Seems like a strange place to get arthritis.

I'm not flaring. I wasn't able to find out what costo was on a quick search.
Also I read somewhere that ibuprofen was not good to take if you have UC, is that true?

nucid said...
Is the sternum a common place to have joint pain with UC? Seems like a strange place to get arthritis.

I had a flare specifically in the sterno manubrial joint. I had to have a ct guided steroid shot in the joint to get it under control.

Since I have started humira it has not recurred.

I am glad that I asked the question as I am learning a great deal from your responses . As for pain I have taken to using acideminphin with codine (codine is constipating) so instead of making the UC worse it usually helps a litte and also helps with pain. In Canada you do not need a presription but it is kept behind the counter.

nucid said...
This disease is so screwed up! How do you have a flare in a joint?

Is UC joint pain different and distinct from arthritis and RA?

Also sorry to high jack the thread. But I would really like to know what is going on with this.

Google Reactive Arthritis + Colitis or chrons or IBD.

The IBD related arthritis is different than RA as it doesn't damage the joint over time. Find a good Rhuematologist. Mine has been a huge help for the joint related pain/issues.

nucid said...
Thanks UC Dude for the google search. It was very informative. I found it interesting that the treatments were NSAIDs, pred, or sulfasasiline which I am already on. I'm just coming out of a flare and hoping things will settle down on their own. I'd rather not add another specialist and extra meds if it can be avoided. Is it unreasonable to think symptoms will improve on their own?

The first drug I tried 10 years ago was sulfasalazine and I developed a rash. It is/was originally an arthritis med going back 50 years or something. The problem with nsaids is that they can irritate the colon. I have also done pred with limited long term success. I also have had steroid shots into the joints. The shots help, but can only be done a couple of times in a 1-2 year time frame.

The arthritis Dr. (Rheumy) has been 10 times more helpful to me than my Gastroenterologist. He helped me get approved for Humira last year which has been a godsend. Seriously I would not hesitate to see another specialist for the arthritis. They can effectively coordinate care with the GI Dr.

For me the "extra" med turned out to be ONE med that helped with both. Good luck.

supersaw said...
So you're saying the Humira DID provide help with the joints? I'm happy to hear it, because I just kind of figure nothing will work for mine. But mine is horrible, like cant walk the dog because I cant grab the leash handle, or cant write because certain fingers are so swollen....right now I only have slight discomfort when standing up from a chair.

Should I get a colonoscopy too 12 months after my first one?

Humira did/has helped.


A year ago I had a scope done (10 years after first one). The scope showed significant active disease. However my UC symptoms were minimal. I always frustrated my GI when I complained about joint issues because the UC symptoms I described to him were quite mild. So the scope a year ago helped justify the move to Humira.

Fast forward to today... going to re-do the scope one year later to see how it has impacted the UC.

I still have minor aches and pains, but no hot swollen joints that keep me from functioning. I am able to run 3-4 times a week on the treadmill for 20-30 minutes. Life has improved on Humira.

I've been in remission for the past couple of months, but my joint pain started a few weeks ago...that can't be good

I have suffered from joint pain (knees, hands and shoulder, mostly) has been on an off every since I was first diagnosed with UC back in 1990, I also suffer from Chronic pain do all the bad disc in my back, an I am on meds 24/7 for that, My Docs have always told me for the most part the joint pain is just part of UC. I was also told that the risk of colon cancer goes up dramatically after having UC 10 years or more, anyway I have a history of Colon Cancer on both sides of my family my mother died of it at age 62, so I get a colonoscopy annually every year, the folks up at Mayo wanted me to have one every 6 months, but my Doc and I think that is a little much. But every year they do take out 2 or 4 precancerous adenomas, and and as long as they can get them early they don't turn into full blown cancer! I take my Sulfasalazine twice a day and I have been doing Ok for the most part, I have some minor problems now and then but I haven't had a major flare-up in a few years.