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Posted 11/12/2008 11:32 PM (GMT 0)

I know this topic has been up here before but I didn't really see the answer I was looking for. I was on 40 mg of pred for about 3 three months (longest pred stint for me) and I tapered at 5mg a week and finished a couple of weeks ago. As soon as I finished the taper my shoulders started hurting and soon followed by me knees, knuckles, toes and hips. After about two weeks of that, I asked my doc about it and he said it was most likely arthritis and he suggested switching me from Colazal to Sulfasalazine, which I understand due to the helpful properties of the sulfa. What I don't get and couldn't find in my topic search is weather or not the pred caused the arthrits or the UC? I know it can be common for UCers to get arthritis or RA, but why did it just pop up now? I didn't have any joint pain or arthritis before I went on the pred. Also I am wondering if there's a chance this is only temporary while my body readjusts itself after being on pred. Anyone relate?

I haven't been on the site for a while, and I haven't updated my signature.

I'm currently on 50mg of mercaptopurine

colazal 3x3 a day

hydracortisone enema 2x a week

also started taking st. johns wart to help my mood (seems to work - a little less edgy and down)

Posted 11/12/2008 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
I am not on pred, I had mild arthritis before UC, and when I started my first flare it enhanced my arthritis. Plus I have joint pain, bottom of my feet will wake me up in the middle of the night hurting like I have been working on them all day, my shoulders and neck hurt, and my hands swell and ache. Oh the joys of UC!

Gigi1227
Posted 11/13/2008 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Joint pains associated with IBD are typically nondestructive to the joints. It is also commonly associated with the larger joints and can move from one to the other. My knowledge in arthralgia is relatively limited but you can try this in your search: Enteropathic Arthropathy.

Hope this helps you find some answers u are looking for.
Posted 11/14/2008 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Matt,
Something else for you to consider, anyone who has been on high dose steroids for longer than a month should also be award of the risk of Osteonecrosis. My daughter, also a UC patient, was on Pred for 4 months, but her highest dose was 90mg of solu medrol while hospitalized.

The really frustrating thing about IBD is that the joint pain can come from the disease itself and the extraintestinal manifestations like RA, from the medications to treat it (Pred), or from the side effects of the drugs, ie osteoporosis, osteonecrosis, or any of the other osteos that are attributed to steroid use.

My daughter started out with a painful swollen knee that had a pronounced click sitting and rising up from sitting. Just be on the lookout and insist on an MRI because ON cannot be detected in the early stages but MRI will find it.
Posted 11/14/2008 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
I can totally relate. I have been off for 3 weeks or so, like you said i had bad joint pain mainly when i woke up in the morning. Every joint ached and i was very stiff, but as the day went on it got better. I dealt with this really bad joint pain for a about a week, then it started to subside. Right now my middle back still aches but i believe i am getting better. Its gonna take some time for my body to balance back out naturally, and i believe it will.

Posted 11/14/2008 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Buckeye - that is really interesting. I did a little research and it definitly sounds like something I should ask my dr. about. I can relate to almost all the symptoms they list. Especially the upper leg and upper arm pain. Do you know, is it only found in an MRI or is there another way to diagnose it?
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