Proctitis and Salofalk (Canasa), backpain, etc.

am 59, male, and received a diagnosis of Proctitis in Oct 2010. Symptoms were rectal bleeding and occasional constipation. I had surgery for diverticulosis in 1997 and all has been well since then. Colonoscopy in summer of 2009 was just fine; rectal bleeding started in late summer of 2010. For the past 10 years, I have had on and off severe back pain. Doctors say it is unrelated to proctitis, yet everything I read on this forum and other forums indicates that back pain is related to proctitis. I was wondering if anyone else has suffered back pain with proctitis. I am in relatively good physical shape, about 10 pounds over the insurance chart weights, and my occupation does not require physical work (I sit at desk like most office workers).

Doctor prescribed 1000mg Canasa. With my insurance it still costs about $110 for 30. I spoke to a Pharmacist at a very large retail store (you know the one) and he said to contact the Canadian online drugstores which are "approved" by the FDA and require a real prescription. The Canadian company told me that Salofalk is a Canadian generic and it comes in 250, 500, and 1000mg sizes (all sizes are suppositories). The 1000mg size without insurance is about $69 and the 250mg size is less than $35 for 30. Canasa seems to work just fine, and I take it about twice/week.

Two questions: Is back pain related to Proctitis? And, has anyone on this forum tried Salofalk (suppositories) as a generic substitute for Canasa? I want to switch to the 250mg size to see if that works effectively. The cost of $35 for 30 is within my budget and even if I have to use it 3 times/week, a box should last me about 2 1/2 months.

P.S. I have started eating Activia once/day for breakfast, and the rectal bleeding has reduced substantially.

thank you

     I had "moderate" (coulda fooled me) ulcerative proctitis before my total colectomy with end ileostomy last June 28th.   I had back pain but I also have very bad osteoporosis (thanks to prednisone use over the past twelve years).  They discovered I have three back fractures.  I knew of one but was stunned to learn I had three.

     Has your doctor ordered any tests to get to the root of your back pain?  My family doctor ordered an MRI with and without contrast and that is when they found the two other fractures.

I was researching back pain and proctitis and found some people with the same problem. Good to know. Everytime I have a flare I notice I have a back ache. If I feel this low back achiness, then I can assume that a flare is coming. It is different from the usual LBP that I get. Like others, the MD says there is no connection, but I don't believe it.

Canasa seems to work well for me. I use it for 2-3 weeks and am cleared up for awhile. It's funny (not really) that when I was diagnosed, the MD said once I cleared it up I should have no more problems. How wrong can he be???? I get 3-4 flares a year! Could be worse..at least I get relief.

If your Proctitis is Ulcerative Colitis (the tissue biopsy results in the Biopsy Report your specialist shoudl have after the Colonoscopy)., then you should know that Sacroiliac (SI) joint inflammation, causing low back pain, can be part of UC.

Ulcerative Colitis (proctitis) is diagnosed by a certain types of abnormal cell features. e.g. 'crypt architecture' is one of those cell abnormalities.

I have this condition, too, and find about 1-2 days per week, I will feel like I threw out my left SI joint. It tends to come on (triggered) with walking. However, in the long run, sitting is the culprit that leads to it being weak, I find.

The best help for me has been seeing a sport Physiotherapist who taught me Core Exercises for better low back (pelvis) stability.

PS The SI joints are the 'dimples' on the low back. You can see them in a mirror.

HTH,

Emma

I have bad disks but I get back pain with my UC. Sometimes when having a BM I get back spasms. They last for hours after the BM. It is so severe I have thrown up from how much it spasms. I take a muscle relaxer when it happens and that helps.