Do you have joint pains and colitis?
I sure had that. It’s been about six months now since it was really bad, but when those joint pains started, you’re not sure what to do. If you are having joint pains with your colitis, you are definitely not the only one. There are tons of us who have this symptoms of the colitis. But yeah, its horrible. I even thought that if I had to choose between one or the other for the rest of time, I would take the colitis at times. The joint pains can be really bad, and they can totally effect your life in bad ways. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel, the joint pains don’t have to last forever.
Did you have joint pains prior to having colitis?
Some people say yes, others no. For me, I think the answer would be no. I was in pretty good shape my whole life prior to my colitis symptoms stopping me in my tracks. Biking, water skiing, that type of stuff without any pains. But, what I do remember is for several years before being diagnosed, having lower back pains that wouldn’t go away. I started thinking I pulled a muscle in my back, or screwed up a disk or something. I even was going to this holistic back Chinese medicine place and doing all types of stretching etc… Did not help the back pain much at all. Back then (4-5 years ago), I was getting more and more bowel movements per day. And the blood was starting to flow. This was prior to being diagnosed with the colonoscopy, and yes I was in severe denial.
Why do the joint pains happen?
On the technical side, I have no idea what is going on here. I have seen Rheumatologists, the doctors who specialize in arthritis, osteoperosis, joint pain, and auto immune stuff. Well, most of them had seen colitis patients with similar joint problems, but getting a full on answer as to why this is happening was rather difficult. So, this whole colitis joint pain thing to me is something that each one of us can make up our own theory on why its happening. Here is my theory, the body is out of wack, the immune system is attacking, stuff is getting inflamed, including joints. I try to compare it to a car’s engine. If you put a whole bunch of sand in the engine, all of the moving parts are going to have a bunch of grinding going on. I think that is similar to what happens to colitis people who suffer joint problems. There is too much junk going in the body(for me food I had no business eating) and it was messing up the joints and causing them to be inflamed. And in the end, nerves were being irritated from the inflammation causing the brain to say “OUCH”.
A Double Wammy for Colitis People
As though going to the bathroom ten times a day and bleeding out the back end wasn’t enough. Now some of us have this joint issue to deal with too. And it kreeps up bigtime during sleep. Making the hope of sleeping darn hard. And also, many people are dealing with the joint pain in the lower back making us think we must have pulled a muscle! Let’s get the VICODIN out. Don’t feel ashamed if you need to pop some vicodin to get past these pains. I sure did. And I like it alot. But, that is a temporary fix. Let’s figure a long term plan to get rid of the joint pains that colitis brings on.
Fix the Joints Please
For me, once I implemented the diet I am still on strictly, joints were not my problem anymore. Now, I am a normal person again. I don’t need to be pushed out of bed like before when my arms were useless since it hurt to much to move them. I was really pissed off for months knowing that my colitis had potential to ruin my joints forever. But, now I am not worried about that at all.
If you too are having joint pain, and have UC, give it a serious try changing your diet. If you are currently eating breads, grains, dairy, refined sugars and the other illegal stuff, DEFINITELY give it a try. You surely won’t be the first to get rid of the joint pains by changing your diet. Here is a link again for the diet book from Amazon- HERE. Well worth reading at least once.
May 30, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Hey,
I just read your reply to joint pain related to colitis. You had left a link for a book from amazon but I cannot see it. Can you tell me what the book is? Thanks!
May 31, 2010 at 6:16 am
Hey Mike,
It’s here: diet book
November 22, 2010 at 2:32 am
I was just diagnosed with uc three days ago and have been having horrible knee and back pain along with bathroom visits upwards of 20 times a day. Other than now being on pills three times a day and dieting, what is some of the first things I can do to help
November 22, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Hi Paul, welcome to the site. I found that my sole treatment of the scd diet has helped all of my symptoms alot. Have you read the SCD pages kn the site? Which diet are you following currently? All the best-Adam
May 14, 2011 at 8:31 pm
I have had UC symptoms for over 25 years (since I was about
and had my first colonoscopy in 4th grade. For some reason I didn’t get diagnosed with UC until a year and a half ago even though I bleed for all those years. I think it took so long because i have horrible constipation issies and never had diarhea. Crazy because when i was diagnosed my whole colon was ulcerated, bleeding, and infected. Even though it was supposedly bad my joint pain causes me more pain and aggravation. The joint pain started about 10 years ago and gets worse each year. It started with my ankles and is now in my knees, hands, elbows, and hips. Sometimes my joints get really swollen, red, and painful to touch. For me pain killers don’t help a bit so my drs give me ambien just to sleep. The rest of the time I just suffer and do my best to get through the day. It’s nice to know others have joint pain and some of you finally have relief. I’ve seen numerous specialists (one who calls it IBD arthritis) and have tried many arthritis meds but unfortunately nothing has worked. I am going to look more into foods I shouldn’t eat in hopes I will get some relief. Where can I find a list of foods to avoid? Any help is greatly appreciated. Good luck to everyone 
January 4, 2012 at 11:01 pm
I have searched a lot through Google about Natural Progesterone Cream developed by Dr. John Lee (2003 he passed away)
My sister’s Acupuncturist prescribed it to help her with her UC symptoms since progesterone has an antiflammatory effect.
Women need only 20 mg. daily and men only 10 mg. You apply it directly on the skin where it is thinner (neck, inner forearms, inner legs, behind knees and rotating the application place everyday)
It helped my sister. So you could search and try it. Since is a natural product you should find it in Natural Products Stores or over the Internet.
In fertile phase you apply it from day 11 to 27 of a cycle counting as day 1 when the flow starts.
In menopause phase you apply it for 25 consecutive days then make a 5 day break and start again with the cycle.
If you look over the internet you will find that it helps with joint imnflammation apart from helping reversing osteoporosis by increasing bone density and many other benefits related with unbalanced progesterone in women as headaches, irregular periods, cramps, menopause sympthoms, migraine and also with arthritis.
June 12, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Hello everyone, I was diagnosed 10 years ago with UC. My doctor said it was the worst case he has ever seen when he first saw me. I was into bodybulding and have struggled to workout without a flair up since I got diagnosed. Probiotics and the Specific Carb Diet (SCD) Made a HUGE differnce. SCD basically involves eating NO bread. I ate a ton of banannas and peanut butter and fruits and vegatables. I would get a frozen bread made of almond flour that was good with peanut butter. I would eat meats and take multi vitimin/mineral. I have tried many many things. I am not able to workout on a full routine, but it is probably better because it lets my body rest. I am now on a quest to end my joint pain. I never 100% related it to uc, and have a rheumatologist apt being scheduled by my physician now. Last week He took bood for tests and gave me a shot. I have been so beaten down by this pain I really dont know what kind of steroid it was, he just said he has something that could help and I jumped right at the chance. I also have been 100% medicine free with no asacol or ever over the counter stuff up intill a couple weeks ago when I made the decision to get this fixed because my life has really sucked becasue of this. This shot MADE ME FEEL GREAT!!! Looking back, the last 4 days of my life have been the best days of my life in the last 8-10 years! Today my symptoms are comming back. But the break from the pain I know will make dealing with the pain again easier. I am now on a quest to find long term treatment for my pain. The doctor thinks it may be targeted inflamation on the tendons of the muscles, so its not the joints so much but the muscles around the joints, which makes sence to me. Good luck to you all… But if you have intestine flair ups I stuck to a hardcore scd diet with tons of yougart and now I can eat almost ANYTHING and I get no intestinal flair up. It is like my intestine fixed itself. I found out I am lactose interolant…some people may have this and not even know. Kefir is a yougart smootie that has tons of probiotics and is Great. I did all of these things and now do nothing and was 100% medicine free, untill now. Im now on a quest to fix my joint pain.
June 12, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Hey Tom, congrats to you for deciding to go on a quest to fix your joint pains. When you find the solution, please please post it here, as I’m still in and out of some joint/tendon tenderness every once in a while. I can’t seem to figure it out completely, but it sure is odd. Most best of luck to you with your current health mission, its crazy how some colitis people can live with moderate or mild colitis “intestinal” issues, but the joint stuff can actually stop us in our tracks at times too….? Hang in there, you found a way out of the colon issues, you’ll do the same with the joints.
-Adam
June 16, 2011 at 8:17 pm
I just randomly found this while searching UC and joint pain. I thought I would join in. It can’t hurt…considering I hurt all over..I was diagnosed with UC in 2007. I started having bad migrating joint pain 1 1/2 years ago. My UC flared some, but compared to the joint pain, was tolerable. The joint pain is completely debilitating at times. It hurts to type this now. I have been tested for everything under the sun and while on clarithromycin for a sinus infection, my joint pain went away. This led my docs to think I possibly had lyme disease! After 2 months of clarithro, the joint pain came back and with a vengence. I am interested in the SCD and will give it a try. I am only 30 years old and cannot take this! Any advice is welcomed. Or just the fact I had this spot to vent helps. Thank you for listening.
June 16, 2011 at 9:11 pm
Hey Elizabeth,
I’m so happy you found the site. When I started the site several months ago to write about my UC and how SCD has helped me, I never thought thousands of others would be wondering the same stuff as me, and FOR SURE I had no idea how many others(thousands too) have the joint pain stuff which totally SUCKS. But its true, the joint pain almost goes hand in hand with UC for so many of us. And just like you said, its often worse to live with than the “gastro UC stuff/symptoms” so I totally hear you on that too. I think that its a great idea if you decide to give SCD a try. Also, feel free to write your full story to get the most exposure to others here, as it will go on the top of the homepage of the site. there are new stories submitted everyday, and from what others tell me, the biggest benefit is pretty much just venting the whole things out and hearing back from others. thx again for joining us, and you’re perfectly normal I assure you for having joint pains with your UC. -Adam
June 22, 2011 at 12:32 pm
Thanks, Adam, for your reply! It is so reassuring to hear a group of people with similar issues and possible solutions through SCD. I am easing into the SCD by starting gluten free. I have read recently that celiacs disease and gluten allergies can also be connected to joint pain and UC. That goes hand in hand with the scd diet so it kind of makes sense.
So far it has been going pretty well. I will post my story and how things go on SCD.
Thanks again for the site!
July 13, 2011 at 11:40 pm
Hey ‘all, I’ve been a UC sufferer for the past 16 yrs but I have had a GREAT deal of help thru the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America!! http://www.ccfa.org is anyone else familiar with them, their constant studies, webinars/conference calls quarterly AND, thanks to them, I wasn’t stuck with an external iliostomy bag from age 23 up!
Take care of yourselves everyone.
Amy
August 14, 2011 at 9:29 am
Hi! I suffered with UC for 19 years and have now had an ileostomy for 20 years. Before my surgery my back hurt so bad I couldn’t even sleep. The surgery took that pain away but beginning just a couple years after surgery I started having severe joint pain. For a couple of years it would flare in my hip and I literally could not walk during a flare. My joint pain seems to stay in an area for several months to several years then migrates somewhere else. The pain is currently in my lower limbs, especially my toes. Sometimes I can’t sleep because my toes hurt so bad. I am on mobic twice a day. It seems to take the edge off the worst of the pain but some days are better than others! Does anyone else have joint pain and an ileostomy? My theory is that although I no longer have a colon, the UC manifests itself through this joint pain. I also still get erythema nodosum on my lower legs every now and then.
Thanks for listening!
Melissa
November 7, 2011 at 2:50 am
Hi Everybody,
I posted above a couple of times- the posts from Elizabeth in June. I can’t sleep due to being so angry my doctors and was thinking how much I hope other people aren’t falling victim to trusting too much, so I thought I would inform this group of an issue that may end up being helpful information for some. Here it is:
For the past 2 1/2 years I suffered from extremely debilitating joint pain and swelling. My UC was not in remission either, but I could get through daily life okay. As the joint pain increased in frequency and intensity last summer, I went back to my Mayo doctors, seeking answers in the fall of 2010. (I had a three month wait to even get in.) Long story short- once I got in to see the GI, I had a colonoscopy, was sent to rheumy and had x-rays, MRIs and CTs in addition to hundreds of blood tests. I ended up having an endoscopy, a sigmoidoscopy and even swallowing a camera pill. I went alcohol free, dairy free, gluten free, vegan, then switched and tried high protein. I did EVERYTHING. The doctors – all of them- even infectious – could not find anything wrong with me other than proctitis. In addition to severe joint pain and UC, I as sick for eight months with a horrible upper respiratory infection. I was laid off from my job in this time frame due loss of sleep from the pain from toes, fingers and wrists swollen to three times their normal size, shoulders that could not help me roll over in the night due to such excrutiating pain and the still unflagging urgency to go to the bathroom all day and all night. My new husband (married last July) had to spend the first year of our marriage caring for me, trying to keep me optimistic when I was losing all hope of finding an answer. I was ready to have my colon removed because of this joint pain. Thank god at least the doctors didn’t look to that.
I stopped taking the last medication I was on at the beginning of September. Immediately my joint pain became less frequent and less severe. The last I had of it was a sore finger joint in the second week of September.
It turns out the drug Doc prescribed for me three years ago, Lialda, can cause numerous degrees of allergic reactions in different people. I went back to him this past Friday to discuss this recent news and he confirmed, yes, I am likely part of the 2-4% of people who have a bad reaction to the drug.
I am so incredibly angry that they continued me on this drug when I went repeatedly for help and guidance to figure out what was wrong with me. They all knew I was on Lialda as I had to confirm all drugs taken at the beginning of every appointment. Why did no one consider this? Why didn’t I consider this?
My point is, for some of you – I recognize, a very small percentage- but some may be having arthralgias related to drug reactions. I took lialda fine for almost one year so it apparently can have an insidious, mysterious affect on one’s body. I am taking the Canasa mesalamine now which is okay. Since it does not go into the stomach or small intestine, it may not cause the same effects as Lialda.
Good luck to everyone! I hope you are all feeling better soon!
Thank you for having this site. It helped me get through the lowest time of my life to just be able to post and have a response. Thank you from the bottom of my gut. ☺
Oh and my bill – the part the insurance won’t have anything to do with is over $8,000. (after I’ve already paid $3,000).
December 16, 2011 at 9:13 pm
My husband was diagnosed with UC about 2 years ago. He tried many drugs. Prednisone always worked but he couldn’t be on that forever. A new Dr. got him on Remicade and Asacol. He has had 3 infusions since August 2011 and takes 4 Asacol per day. So the UC is in remission. He called his GI Dr. complaining about his hand pain 6-8 weeks ago and was told it was not the medicine by his nurse. He called again saying that his hands are now swollen and the joint pain is up both arms to his neck. They have been trying to get him into a RA Dr. but no appt. available till June! We hear nothing more from this GI Dr. so he has gone to our local Urgent Care twice and his GP to get anybody to listen to him. He is sleeping less and less because of the pain and over the counter pain relief is just not cutting it. Finally today the Nurse Pract. at our local medical office has ordered a whole series of blood tests. We are also working on another RA Clinic to get an appt. in January. What are you thinking about this Dr. from the Spokane Digestive Disease Center for missing the correlation between UC and joint pain???? Do other Drs. know about this connection? Our friend found your website and called me this evening with your relevant info.
Thanks for any info.
Janet, UC wife
December 16, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Hey Janet,
I’m SO SO SORRY your husbands dealing with this joint pain stuff right now. I know exactly what you’re talking about. I had the same deal. For me, it became really bad after I started taking Humira, another immune suppressant as you might know.
If you go and read through the “Survey” section of the website(second navigation bar towards top of site), there is a survey of UC patients who took Remicade, and it might be interesting to read about the side effects people metioned afterwards.
Anyways, yeah, I would hope that doctors who practice GI stuff would know by now that joint pains are pretty darn common with UC and other IBD patients. But, the reality is that’s just not the case yet.
ON THE GOOD NEWS SIDE OF THINGS, it’s been just about 1 1/2 years since i stopped the Humira and almost 2 years since I stoppped remicade(i’m now medication free) and my joint pains have gone down considerably. I’ll have weeks where I don’t even think of them or notice them, and then maybre a day or two of some pains in my right elbow upper arm area. BUT even that “pain” is significantly less, maybe 10% compared to the days where I needed vicodin to sleep through the night.
I went out to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and met with several RA doctors from Stanford Medical Center, and none of them had any quick fix news for me other than trying some other medications like methotrexate, or 6MP to help with the UC. (i personally didn’t want any more of the medications so I opted for plan B which was ride the storm and hope things get better)
sorry for my ramble, but I know how bad the joint pains really stink, your husband probably thinks they are even worse than the GI isssues, or at least that’s what i was thinking.
feel free to email me if you like adam@ihaveuc.com
take care,
adam
December 17, 2011 at 11:41 am
My joints are painful in front of both ankles and behind both knees! It never seems to leave, but after what I went through with loosing my colon battle, it pails in comparison. I’m post Ileo-anal Anastomosis and I was on Remicade for a year to try and save my colon. It obviosly did not work, but I know it doe’s help many others, God bless them. Nice to meet you Adam and others like me! I’m your comrade in this battle we all carry within our own bodies! Eight sureries and 3 almost dead experiences, my life was saved at The Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Much love…Lillian Adamour!
December 17, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Lillian,
It’s so so nice to meet you. We sure are in this together, and and we’re all going to survive together. Just when you think that you are alone with some strange mental issues, we get to meet others who are going through the same stuff, and in a weird but awesome way….IT’s GREAT! Have a great day Lillian!! and much love right back at you!
Adam
December 19, 2011 at 4:27 am
I have joint pain as well. In fact, I’m going to have injections in my right knee starting this week. It’s only in my right knee. I’m taking Lialda and also use Hydrocortisone enemas for my colitis which my doctor says is mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. I was wondering if this is related to the colitis as my knee pain just started recently. The doctor took x-rays and says my right knee has arthritis.
December 19, 2011 at 9:37 am
Hey Sick and Tired,
It’s so hard to say, but since so many people complain of joint pains after being diagnosed(myself included) I think there must be some type of connection.
January 13, 2012 at 10:26 pm
I have been diagnosed with UC about 6 years ago now & have recently been to the drs about pains in my right knee. She didnt want to give me anything for it (which Im pleased) she did however say that she thinks it wear & tear under my knee cap. She gave me exercises but dont know if thats working either. I hate not being able to kneel on the floor with the kids as the pain is too much. I also feel it in the hips on the odd occasion. Man it would be nice to be pain free for 5 minutes!
January 26, 2012 at 1:41 am
Hi all, I have had UC for pushing six years now and have had an absolute nightmare with it. I was told it wasnt that bad but I have had lower back problems for years and suffer with random joint pains at least once a week lasting for anything upto a week. I bleed all the time now and the docs really arent prepared to help it seems as they keep cancelling appointments and I havent seen my “regular” consultant in nearly two years due to this. I dont have a regular GP either as every time I have been to the doc I always see a “new” doctor and have to explain the whole story again. I am nearing the point of giving up with doctors and the NHS and just trying to cope on my own, I have had no advise on foods apart from the obvious, “avoid spicy or hot foods”. I am still working out what my body can cope with and keep finding that what was once tollerable I now have trouble with.
Anyone else having no help? I am sick of hurting all the time, be it gut, back joints and generally feeling unwell.
I am having alot of problems doing my job and am really tired all the time, I need some sort of help and dont know where to turn anymore, depressed doesnt really sum it up!
Take care all and I apologise for sounding so miserable but I feel like this everyday.
January 26, 2012 at 8:36 am
Hey Dave,
I’m sorry you’re feeling so terrible right now. I want to let you know though, we just finished the “Colitis Joint Pains Survey” and I’m in the middle of getting all the results ready to be published. After quickly looking at what others filled out, there are some ideas on how to deal with it within the survey results. So check back with the site in a few more days, and by then I should have that story published on the homepage.
-Adam
February 14, 2012 at 10:23 pm
I have ulcerative colitis and my joints in my knees, hips and shoulders kill me. For pain I would take B.C. Powder. Well I can tell you this, DO NOT do this because I have to have half of my stomach removed now because of a ulcer that will not heal.
February 19, 2012 at 4:03 pm
I have had UC for over 2 years. I suffered for 3 months with bleeding and 10-15 trips to the toilet per day. I had never been so sick in all my life. No fun. I have been suffering with joint pain, from what I remember since i was diagnosed with UC. I have pain in the Hips and shoulders. If I lift my Arm to high, I fall to the floor in un-bearable pain. I didn’t associate it to UC ubtil I searched it on Google today. Sounds like lots of people have similart symptoms. Diet is difficult for me because I am also Diabetic on an Insulin Pump. Anyway its nice to vent with people with similar issues.
March 30, 2012 at 6:51 pm
So great to find this site!!! I was diagnosed with Pancolitis about 5 years ago, and put on Asacol, then Asacol HD. about 2 yrs later the joint pains started. Always seemed worse at night. After seeing many doctors, finaly a Rheumy put me on an old med. of Sulfasalazine. It took a few mths to work, but did the trick for awhile. But, the joint pains have come back, always worse at night, and always varies from different joints:shoulders, ankles, feet, hands, fingers, knees, hips…. uck!! I am willing to try anything, might have to get this book, very interested , but man I love my bread..lol!!! Great to find out im not the only one, I swear my husband thinks im crazy with these odd joint pains
March 30, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Jen,
I konw the feeling, I think some friends of mine were thinkng I was full of you know what, but sure enough, quite a few people have the joint pains too If you haven’t already, go to the survey section of the site, and you can read the colitis joint pains survey reports.
April 7, 2012 at 4:19 am
I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis almost 6 years ago. I am now is some what of remission. I take Imuran, asacol, vitamin d, topic acid, and magnesium. I still have a lot of pain when I go to the bathroom. Which I hate more then anything. The GI doctor said it is only IBS not my UC. Yesterday I woke up and two fingers on each hand could not bend because of the pain. I have had this pain before but not tis bad. Now the pain is in both elbows, both shoulders my left hip, both knees and in my right foot. It came on so fast I could. Of believe it. Does this happen a lot to you guys? This is the first time I have had pain this bad everywhere. I can barley move and my husband thinks I am crazy. Any suggestions?
April 7, 2012 at 7:04 am
Hey Michelle,
I myself never had problems in my fingers or hands, but my elbows and shoulders got hit pretty bad when my symptoms were bad. It would kinda come and go, and sometimes it would be really bad for hours and then all of a sudden within 20 minutes it would be gone for a few days.
Hang in there, it’s gonna get better, but most definitely what you are talking about seems to be really common with people with UC.
April 28, 2012 at 12:48 am
I have been suffering joint pain, mouth sores and a bad case of the poopy butt (lol) for a while now. I have been to many doctors and they all said that it was nothing or I just have sore muscles or I’m depressed (!). Thank god for web md. I looked up my symptoms and up popped UC. I mde an appointment with a new doctor and I demanded that he do a blood panel and a colonoscopy to diagnose me. Sure enough it was UC. The mess he prescribed I will not take. The first was prednisone. I have an allergic to life shar pei who was on that and it made him a fat angry beast of a dog. I can only imagine myself on that. The next was some methy-blah blah named stuff that would cost $160 a bottle!
I have two kids so spending that amount of cash is not an option. So I looked for something natural and effective. I heard about marinol and how it helps but Its a synthetic chemical that is basically all thc and no CBS or cbns. So I decided to get on medical marijuana. I figure if it is such a great natural medicine that big pharma tried to copy it, then it must do something right. After being on cannabis for a week now I feel my life is coming back. I drink a infused drink called a Dixie elixer and wow, it takes away my tummy pain and I don’t feel like crapping my pants. I also use a pill called a canna tab and it it’s a sublingual tablet that dissolves right under toung. Cannabis has been my saving grace. I don’t feel like vommiting. I can sleep and eat. I’m less bloated and I can play at the park with my boys and not be chained to the bathroom door. I’m not a stoner I’m a patient. I’m a mom. I was sick and going up hope when I found my cure. I encourage anyone who has UC to look up cannabis and it’s beneficial components that aid in inflammation nausea and lack of appetite.
May 2, 2012 at 11:46 am
Hey there! I have had UC for over 20 years but only officially diagnosed for just under 20 (won’t get into that mess). For the last 6 years I have been in remission while on a daily dose of 6mp (I am allergic to the standard medication of sulfazalazide). This was heaven for me as prior to remission I could barely leave my house to meet my kids at the bus stop on the corner. I have occasional light flares (maybe a day of loose stool) but given that I can go several days without ever having a bowel movement I’m cool with how things stand.
However, over the last year I have begun to have swollen fingers. This last month or so my fingers and toes have begun to hurt so bad they feel like their broken. My mom has Rheumatoid Arthritis, which the symptoms fit exactly to what I am experiencing. So I finally got in to see a rheumatologist last week and she said she thinks it’s due to my UC. This was a shock to me since I have been in remission for so long. When I got online and read about it I notice that the joint pain is described as elbows and knees mostly. I do not have this problem. Mine, right now, is my fingers and toes. I’m curious to know what joint pain others are experiencing. I got a call today saying that my labs came back fine, meaning I show no indicators of RA. She said that the joint pain caused by UC is treated the same as RA, so I am now on plaquenil to see if that works.
God bless those of you who can do the gluten free diet. I’m simply not strong enough to keep away from bread, LOL. As long as my medication works I’m happy not having to worry about food.
May 15, 2012 at 2:04 pm
hey everybody, i was diagnosed with colitis about 10 yrs ago and 6 yrs ago i had the J pouch surgery, i have had every symptom know to man involving colitis but i just started to get the joint pain, Some days my wrists hurt so bad i dont want to even get out of bed, my wrists have been swollen now for a month and very very painful, i hope they stop hurting soon, it is very hard for me to work but i keep plugging along, bless everybody with this terrible disease