HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

QUESTION REGARDING UC AND ARTHRITIS COMBINED

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/26/2012 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everybody,

I have developed arthritis over the past 8 months. I've had colitis for over 20 yrs. I started remicade last June. Is the remicade causing all this discomfort? I throught Remicade was also cused for Arthritis so i'm kinda stumped. I have carpal tunnel now so bad I cant move my hands in the morning and my arms are getting worse with the joint pain.

Why would I now just be starting to have such joint pain when I've had UC for so long. Is it years and years of medications. I was on prednizone off and on for years but havent been on it in over 9 yrs. I hear it can creep back up on you later on and cause problems.

Thanks for any help you can give. I 'm just at a loss.

Donna smhair

Posted 3/26/2012 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
That seems to be a common complaint with Remicade. For some odd reason it increases joint pain instead of easing it but it is used in RA - go figure! I also have an increase of joint pain but I have unspecified arthritis - Rheumy thinks it's Periperal arthritis, however ever since starting Remi my joints have been more achy and they pop/grind more too.
Posted 3/26/2012 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
If you have osteoarthritis and not autoimmune arthritis, I can't see that Remi would help. It sucks since we can have so many issues and they're not necessarily connected.

I'm wondering if using something like Bromelain or sera peptase digestive enzymes would help? I used them in combo a while ago, but lost a bit too much weight...maybe worth trying?  Maybe I'll try just the bromelain see how that does. 
The other option maybe in conjunction with that is to use sulphasalazine.

Hope you get improvement. I can relate bigtime with hand/joint/back...I've had it since I was a kid, but it seems to not be related to my UC flares, etc. Definitely repetative and from injury.

q
Posted 3/28/2012 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Donna:
My joint pain comes and goes. I have some sort of joint pain most of the time, but sometimes it gets so bad that
I end up on Percocet to sleep. I try and take Tramadol during the day if I'm hurting. Going GF was my choice and it has helped
my UC and joint pain significantly. If I eat gluten now, I will have joint pain for about a week then it calms down again.
Sometimes my joints just hurt, but NOTHING like when I was eating gluten full time.

Lately, things are better. Why? I haven't a clue.

I tried Curcumin for months as its supposed to decrease inflammation. Didn't seem to help. I've been on Omega 3's and Vit D3 for years just because I feel my body needs those.
My Lialda holds the UC in line, with some flaring this last year for no apparent reason that I can tell.
I've been off work for most of the last year as well.
I know stress has a huge impact on my general health. I exercise a few days a week for good measure. Mostly I get into the water as my joints seem to do OK with that.

It's all a conundrum to me. I keep experimenting.

I'm now on Prilosec and Zenpep (digestive enzymes) for my Chronic Pancreatitis and I feel that my diarrhea/mucus symptoms have gotten better, but I still have urgency and now I've GAINED WEIGHT to the point where I'm now OVER weight. Wierd....but some say the digestive enzymes are probably helping my body process my calories differently and I'm "absorbing" my calories better??
Posted 3/28/2012 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Everybody,

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I found it strange that the joint paint has increased so much with remicade. I see my GI next month. The orthopedic doctor I saw said all my joint pain isnt from the REMI. but I truly think it is. Why would I start having so much joint pain after a few months of starting the treatments?
Any surgestions on which tpye of doctor too see for any sort of releif of the joint issues. I cant live like this. I'm in pain just typing. I cant sleep its horrible. :-(
Thanks again
Donna ~~
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply