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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/14/2011 7:14 AM (GMT 0)
I have had UC since 2002.  I am alergic to Mesalimine wich is in most of the remission drugs.  I jump from constipation to diariah and have bad abdominal pain but the worst part of this disease is the joint pain.  I have been taking vicodin or percocet for several years now because of it but now it has gotten so bad they no longer help and the pain is unbearable.  It feels like every joint is shattering even my toe joints.  My doctor said I would find relief if I have a colectomy but a book I read said the surgury would not help the joint issue.  My belly problems are not to the point of me considering surgury since I am still hopefull for a cure but the joint pain is to the point I would gladdly give up my colon to get relief.  Can anyone tell me if they have joint issues to and how they handle it and if surgury helped with it?  Thank you
Posted 6/14/2011 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
Have you seen a Rheumatologist yet?
Posted 6/14/2011 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
Lady Vicodin,

Welcome to the forum.

 It feels like every joint is shattering even my toe joints

I'm so sorry about the pain you are experiencing. I am all too familiar with it too, I have it the same way you do, except mine affects my neck, and throughout my back, and then the bones in my legs too. I've been putting up with the pain and not taking any pain killers - it's been very hard.

Did your pain arrive with the UC? Mine did.

But back to your question, about surgery helping with the joint pains - I really don't know. You may need to get the input from some of the folks who've had the surgery who may have had joint pains too. 

I hope you find some relief, and some answers.


 

Posted 6/14/2011 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
were you on pred? When I taper down/off I get horrible joint/muscle pain.
Posted 6/14/2011 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry about the pain - I have seen my daughter suffer through it and it is unbearable to watch her hurt so much! Her worst pain was after taking Prednisone and tapering down. I have heard Cymbalta is helpful for pain, as is Lyrica. Are either of those an option for you?
Posted 6/14/2011 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on & off prednisone tons of times and I know what you mean about the withdrawl but the joint pain I'm talking about is not related to withdrawl.

I did see a specialist about it and he said it was a symptom that comes with UC and it could go away when I'm in reission but he couldn't say it would for sure.  I have found it is unrelated to how good or bad my colon is doing.  This is why I'm worried that maybe removing my colon wouldn' help.

I haven't tried any of the common drugs given for arthritis yet because the specialist said it would flare my UC.  Has anyone taken anything like Arthritech or Celibrex?  If so has it flared you?  My joints hurt so bad I think I'd rather have the flare and not have the joint pain.

Usually in the past I would have bad days then days that were ok but I have been in constant pain since January 2011.  I just can't handle it anymore and I'm to the point I'm willing to try anything.

Thank you all for any advice!

Posted 6/14/2011 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
I was taking Celebrex for a while and it didn't seem to bother my Uc, however I would only take it every other day or so. I also take Aleve in the same fashion now.
Posted 6/14/2011 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
So you don't say what meds you're using to treat your UC - have you tried the biologics?

One of my biggest complaints with my IBD has been joint pain. I think bringing a rheumatologist onto your team is a good idea - I did that, and I'm very glad for it. My rheumy and GI did not agree on the medication plan, but they did agree that my joint pain was related to my IBD (after a lot of testing by the rheumy), which got my GI to think more clearly about how to treat my IBD. He switched my meds up and added sulfasalazine, which has been very effective for me. If you're allergic to salicylate, I don't think it will be an option, but my point is that there are options out there for you.
Posted 6/15/2011 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
I've had pretty serious joint pains due to UC, concentrated mostly on the hips and upper legs. At one point it got so bad I couldn't sleep on my side because the pressure on my hips was too much. I thought it was from the mesalamine drugs I was taking, but no. I stopped those and the joint pain continued.

I've only recently found a great way to diminish the joint pains: magnesium oil. Do your research. It has done wonders for me, once i found a lotion version that doesn't irritate the skin like the straight oil does. My UC is still there, but the joint pains are nearly gone. It's incredible. Zero side effects as well; turns out most Americans are incredibly deficient in magnesium, and transdermal supplementation is the best way to go to absorb as much as possible. I can't recommend enough that you give it a real hard look. Lemme know if you have any questions.
Posted 6/15/2011 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
 

What is magnesium oil and where can I get it? I have the joint pain intermitently and take Vicodin as needed. I have also found that when I am in a warm, dry climate it goes away, (or any kind of heat) as well as when in remission. MSM cream and other transdermals work somewhat, but not for very long. My Rheumatologist did not find any significant arthritis to account for the pain. I think an infra-red sauna might work too. Thanks for the info.

Posted 6/15/2011 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
The Rheumatologist did some tests but didn't find anything but the arthritis.

My Grandma had arthritis but she had to be tuffer than she looked cause I never realized how bad it hurt unless the arthritis UC people get is different than what others get.

I did try 2 Aleve several times but didn't notice a differene.

I do take a magnesium pill every day but will check into the oil or lotion. Do you get it at a health food store?

I have tried tons of different drugs... too many to list here and had troubles with each one. Right now the only thing I take is Lexapro & Vicodin. Affter reading all the problems those who can taake the medicine is having I'm not sure if I'm that far behind other sufferers. It seams even with the medicine people still can't stay normal for very long.

Does anyone know anything about the relief of joint pain from th surgury?
Posted 6/15/2011 6:03 AM (GMT 0)

HeartMe said...
What is magnesium oil and where can I get it?


Just google "magnesium oil" and you'll find all the answers to your questions. I got mine off the internet (Amazon), went with dr. shealy's mag lotion which irritates the skin less. There's an Ancient Minerals brand too, but it's really expensive. Dr. Shealy's works and it's cheaper.
Posted 6/15/2011 6:06 AM (GMT 0)

Lady Vicodin said...
I do take a magnesium pill every day but will check into the oil or lotion. Do you get it at a health food store?


Magnesium pills don't provide as much bioavailability as the lotion or oil does. To really get the effects, you need to use a transdermal method. As I mentioned I got mine off the net, but a local store has it as well. It's cheaper and you can get more varieties of the net, however.
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