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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/8/2010 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
I just had some bloodwork done to rule out thyroid issues since I have been experiencing weird symptoms unrelated to UC ... my main problem is the joint and muscle pain. It is getting worse even though my UC is in remission - thus the bloodwork to rule out other issues.

My question is: for those of you in the same boat with the pain, what drugs do you get that help? At my next doc visit, I want to arm myself with the right info. Right now, I am taking hydrocodone for my recovering broken knee, even though the knee itself does not hurt anymore! The hydrocodone doesn't really help for muscle and joint pain too much anyway. It just takes the edge off. My hubby did have a few muscle relaxers but I can only take before bedtime because they knock me off my a** ...

Any ideas? It is getting so I cannot work without this throbbing sensation from the waist down. I get up and stretch often, massage my muscles, etc. I even brought my heating pad to work! Advice is appreciated ...
Posted 9/8/2010 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi...it's good you had the extra blood tests. Was it through a rheumatologist? I saw one to see if there was a connection to another issue...no, not related to UC, separate. sigh..lol.

I do use Robaxacet (but the Costco version of back relief)...it helps when I take it in the morning. Taking the edge off is helpful.

It seems it's your lower back consider the throbbing sensation...have you seen a chiropractor?

You might be able to help your pain somewhat by sleeping with a pillow between your legs as well as hugging a pillow when on your side. 

q

Posted 9/8/2010 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I can tell you that with fibromyalgia and DDD I have been given over the years a gambit of meds the only ones I have had success with is Skelaxin and Sulindac they don't remove it they make it more tolerable . Once you find the one that works for YOU , it will click . From all the people I have talked to they all say be mobile .....don't lay around try to stretch and keep your muscles from cramping ...I know it hurts but it does help ...good luck
Posted 9/9/2010 7:23 AM (GMT 0)
There is something called arthritis due to colitis. Similar to rheumatoid arthritis but it affects the joints and muscles differently (so says my rheumatologist). also less brutal. I have been dianosed with it. My symptoms were different than yours though. My pain wasn't as bad and I had is in my lower back, hands elbows wrist feet, and joint swelling. Methotrexate was the drug I was put on. It helped with both the arthritis and UC. Not a pain killer, a chemotherapy drug that works as an immunosupressant.

Maybe not your problem, but it could be, I'd venture...
Posted 9/12/2010 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hopefully by Monday I will have blood work results. Right now with my insurance, my primary care orders it. if there is something iffy, then I get referred ... the pain is like a deep muscle aching all the way to the bone. I started thinking about it and while the joints do hurt, it's more deep tissue than anything else. My upper half does ache but is totally blocked out by the throbbing from the waist down. It's not my back really either (thank goodness).

While I have had aches for months, it really got ramped up in July when I broke my knee. I wonder if that is a direct correlation or a coincidence. My knee is much better and doesn't really hurt, even at physical therapy. It aches and throbs but with a heating pad, it goes away. Just everything else from the waist down is a problem.

At this point, I almost hope something in the bloodwork DOES show up! I have a feeling my primary care is thinking is it psychosomatic ....
Posted 9/12/2010 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Could it be related to low estrogen - joint pain and lower back pain are common with low estrogen, as well as dry skin, dry eyes, and a number of other symptoms.
Posted 9/12/2010 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
I would suggest that you let whatever specialist you end up seeing know in the clearest way that you have U.C., because NSAIDs commonly used for pain relief can cause your U.C to flare.
Posted 9/12/2010 7:38 PM (GMT 0)

NeanderthalMan said...
There is something called arthritis due to colitis.

I know the medical community says that arthritis is due to UC, because studies say that it is more likely that someone with UC will get arthritis. However, these studies could be making a common mistake that is often made in statistics in which a cause and effect relationship is noted just because the two happen in increase together. There could be a third factor involved, in particular, steroids (and possibly other medications) to treat colon inflammation. It could be that prednisone (or other medications) could be a cause in the increase of arthritis among UC patients. The reason I say this is that I too had a case of arthritis. It was when I was tapering off of predisone. I tapered too quickly and ended up with painful joints during the tapering. Thank goodness, the symptoms gradually went away. It was a horrible experience.
Posted 9/12/2010 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Rheumatoid arthritis, eye inflammation, liver problems are all common maladies associated with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. At the height of my last flare all of a sudden I had eye inflammation and severe arthritis in my knees, ankles, hands, and wrists. But the good news is that as soon as my flare ended my arthritis and eye problems just as quickly disappeared.

One plausible explanation might be that as your intestine becomes severely inflamed, bacteria can escape the digestive system into the bloodstream wrecking havoc with your immune system. Leaky Gut syndrome. Arthritis is another autoimmune disease. But I do not know how this can apply to you because you say that your UC is in remission.

Arthritis sucks with UC because NSAIDs are not recommended to be taken with IBD. Some find fish oil to be anti-inflammatory and it is one of the alternative treatments for UC.
Posted 9/12/2010 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
this is all a mystery because gut-wise, I am in tip top shape ... take my probiotics, calcium, vitamin D, fish oil, and Lialda maintenance dose (1 normally, 2 during PMS) ... no blips with the UC even during all the drugs when I broke my knee, including two rounds of antibiotics. No steroids in almost two years .... *sigh* I hope to get some answers tomorrow!

I will look into the low estrogen thing ... could that also cause menopausal symptoms luv2ride? the reason I ask is that I do have some menopausal symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats (which could also be related to thyroid issues!)

This is like a connect-the dots kind of problem! ugh!
Posted 9/12/2010 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
I too had severe pain from my waist down.  I thought it was arthitis but I am on Humira.  Humira probably would have taken care of the pain.  Anyway, I had blood work done and it came back fine.  My dr. took me off my statin medicine for my cholesterol and my pain has almost gone.  I didn't know if you were on cholesterol medicine. Statins can cause muscle pain and aches.  I hope you get better and find the answer.
Posted 9/12/2010 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
JFran,

What did your doctor say when you stopped statins? I don't know what I am talking about when it comes to drugs (I try to avoid them) including statins, but I thought (could be wrong) that most people need to remain on them. Is it true that your body can become dependent? Please ask your doctor.

I know president Clinton quit Lipitor when he left the White House because it did its job and lowered his cholesterol. But a couple of years later he had heart problems and needed surgery. But maybe it was because he did not eat right, he did have a reputation for junk food (and junk sex).

One possible antidote to joint and muscle pain from statins is to also take Q10. For this reason I believe that Canada will not allow you a statin prescription without warning about Q10:

"Canadian health authorities require that statins sold in Canada carry a precautionary warning regarding CoQ10 depletion."
Posted 9/14/2010 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Crap! My bloodwork came back totally normal except for my cholesterol which is 202! Ugh ... I just don't get it.

I will go back to the doc to ask what the next step is because I cannot stand feeling like crap every single day. And if he insinuates that it is in my head, I am going to punch him.

Oh, and I never had cholesterol problems before UC so is that yet another side effect as well? I don't eat crap foods ... ok, ok so I give into cravings every so often but I normally eat healthy and take my fish oil pills and other supplements. I know I need to exercise more so now I am modifying a workout which won't stress my recovering broken knee. Perhaps exercise will help lower my cholesterol.

I am just so frustrated right now.
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