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Arthritis From UC?

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Posted 6/23/2009 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
I had an incident back in Feb where all of my joints were on fire and I couldn't move, at all. I got tested for RA and Gout, but it was neither. I looked up online if there's any relation to UC and it turns out there is. Anyone else having this problem? It said online that it usually follows a flare up, but I've been good for a long time now (knock on wood). It's starting to come back in my hands, knees and ankles now. Just curious
Posted 6/23/2009 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi...curious who did your tests for you? Your GI or GP or rheumatologist?

I would think there would be specific blood tests that could link them...

I don't have UC-related arthritis...

What medications are you on at this time....and were you on the same meds when you had the last bout of inflammation?

Have you had liver enzyme testing done?

Welcome to the forum!
quincy
Posted 6/23/2009 7:26 AM (GMT 0)
yes!

i had UC induced arthritis a while ago.

during my wedding of all things.  couldnt wear my shoes for more than 4 minutes.

for about 4 months my ankles and knees were so sore and painful it was insane. i felt like an 80 year old when i went down stairs.

very hard.  couldnt kneel at all.

swollen ankles like way bigger than cankles.

horrible.

it went away on its own.

do NOT take ibuprofen for it even if its prescribed. that makes UC worse.

i dont know why it went away,but it just did.

uc does cause arthritis during flares.  it causes some other side issues too that some people get.

you can do a search on it in google.

Posted 6/23/2009 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
I started the flare that I am technically still in about 8 weeks ago. At the same time that my UC symptoms were at their worst, I had a great deal of knee pain (both sides), hip pain (surprisingly only on the left), low back pain, and neck pain.

I know that I did nothing to injure those painful body parts! Since I had my first consult with my new GI, I mentioned this pain to him. He had me bend forward to look at my back range of motion, move my neck around, and he felt my knees. He said my knees felt "boggy" whatever that means.

He said if my pain didn't go away as the flare went away I should see a rheumatologist. "There is a link between UC and arthritis" he said.

Thankfully the pain did go away when I started the lovely prednisone! Who can have inflammation while taking that stuff! smilewinkgrin

Anyway, as I am tapering, I am not getting a return of the symptoms so hopefully all is well. I have gotten back to working out and doing well.

I took some Ultram (Tramadol) for pain. It is not a NSAID so it doesn't supposedly affect the UC symptoms.

Good Luck!

Jen O
Posted 6/23/2009 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
I had really bad joint pain too. The theory I've heard, and that worked for me, is that when you have a UC flare you are getting larger particles of your food in your blood stream, and then if your body is allergic to something it attacks it where it slows down -- the joints. I have heard this from two separate MD's, both are integrative Drs. I did an AlCat test with one of them which tested me for 150 (i think) foods and found several problems, but one big one -- dairy. I quit dairy and haven't had a sore joint since even though I'm flaring. Also, something that seemed to help immediately was Omega 3/6/9. Might help lubricate the joints or something.

Hope this helps everyone.
Posted 6/23/2009 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
I saw a rheumy and she said that UC-related arthritis only happens during a flare. My joint pain started after I was in remission, so she said that it wasn't UC-related. She said my symptoms sounded like inflammation, which in that case Remicade should help. And my ANA came back normal, so the joint pain shouldn't be from Remicade. The rheumy said she didn't have any answers at the moment and just to keep track of the pain. It's the worst in my fingers and wrist, and I'm just kinda dealing with it.

Posted 6/23/2009 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
For me I had a really painful right leg nearly a full year before the first sign of UC showed up. I don't know if this is because I was flaring up and not having bowel movement issues or what but it was some pretty intense pain causing several visits to the emergency room and the loss of several jobs. I personally believe that it is UC related due to the fact that often when I am in a minor/moderate flare up my leg hurts even more than normal.
Posted 6/23/2009 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
The joints in my hands hurt when I was tapering off of Prednisone. I had tapered too quickly--so quickly that the joints in my hands hurt.
Posted 6/24/2009 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
I had knee pain that preceded my diagnosis by about 2-3 years. I was having stomach trouble at the time but had not been diagnosed yet. Not long after starting the meds and my inflammation getting under control, the knee pain went away and has not come back!!! It was a nagging thing too and I am so happy to have it gone. Good luck, I hope yours goes away too.
Posted 6/24/2009 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Oh yes UC can have arthritis with it. It usually doesn't involve actual joint swelling, from what I've heard and experienced, and that is how you can tell it is with the UC and not rheumatoid. But still very painful! My suggestion is to buy a mini-van with all power features (doors, tailgate, etc.)--We bought that for my arthritis and I've never had it since. I'm totally joking, of course, but we always laugh that all we had to do to cure my terrible arthritis was buy a nice minivan. If only my UC could be cured so easily! Good luck.
Posted 6/24/2009 5:40 PM (GMT 0)

supersaw said...
my UC comes with arthritis and involves great joint swelling

Huh! I stand corrected on the no joint swelling. Thanks supersaw.
Posted 6/25/2009 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
I have incidents about once a month where I can't walk. It gets bad sometimes. My knees get stiff quickly. It hasn't gone away and I don't think it will. It can get bad before it rains or storms too. My rheumatologist prescribed Sulindac. Not good, made my stomach bleed, and it's not quite enough anyways.
Posted 6/25/2009 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings:

I too have UC induced arthritis. It occurs with or without a flare. My understanding is that since uc is an inflammatory disease anything that can get inflamed does. In any event, I've been told that it is called transitory arthritis because it comes and goes and moves around your body. My worst zones are my knees. I am on azulfidine, which I don't need for the uc, 'cause I also take asachol so says my doc. He believes that the azulfidine helps with the arthritis.
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