Remicade and joint pain

I had the same pain - except the first time I experienced it, it started in my toe instead of my finger like yours.

Going forward from there, about 4-6 weeks after an infusion I would wake up with a stiff neck, then the next day it would be worse, then it would begin to travel like yours. It would come to a point where it was completely debilitating.

Gi kept telling me it was Arthritis saying people people with IBD are pre-disposed to this condition... I kept saying no. Eventually I stumbled across a forum of others with the same problem. Had to do with your body building up antibodies to Remicade. So you either increase the frequency of your doses from say every 8 weeks to every 6 - or you stop taking it.

I stopped taking Remicade and all pain went away in a week or two. Has never come back since.

You can ask your GI about a the antibody test from Prometheus Labs.

"PROMETHEUS® Anser™ IFX test. The PROMETHEUS Anser IFX test is a quantitative monitoring assay that allows healthcare providers to measure and monitor serum infliximab and antibodies to infliximab (ATI) levels at anytime during therapy. Incorporating drug monitoring may clarify what factors are contributing to a patient's loss of response and help guide treatment decisions by providing information to help determine an appropriate course of action."

www.prometheuspatients.com/Products_Diagnostics.asp

And read through this thread as well

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1040107

Hope this helps

Mark

I had TMJD for the first time ever while on Remicade. I am having the Prometheus Anser IFX test this week. I'd just as soon not go back on Remicade because the infusions are so time consuming and I haven't had any appreciable gains with my UC in six months of treatment.

Neither my dentist nor my GI can confirm if my jaw problems are actually Remicade related or not, but I've felt much better and I've not had an infusion since January. I've also had a bite guard.

i got joint pains from both remicade and humira. humira was worse though in how long the pain would last. my right hand seems to be the unlucky target- freezing and not being able to bend my fingers or move my wrist. it feels like i punched someone in the face sometimes. humira's probably still in my system from january but i think this will eventually go away. my remicade pains went away after i got off.

Labratjc - I am sorry about that.  It is so hard to make these decisions when the drug appears to be helping otherwise.  We are constantly weighing cost vs. benefit with all these treatments and I wish the decisions were easier.

This is interesting about the antibodies related to the joint pain.  I did not know that was the connection with joint pain.  My son has had 4 infusions and is developing headaches.  We drew the antibody levels at his last infusion this past Wednesday, so I guess we will see if there is a connection to antibodies with his headahces as well.  Does anyone know about that, ie are headaches also related to antibodies?  I suppose we will find out this week when we get our results....