Joint Pain with UC

Can Anyone Give Me Some Information

on Colitis and Joint Pains?

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003 but suffered symptoms since I was 15, I’m now 41. and have 3 children. Doctors just kept telling me it was irritable bowel syndrome, it wasn’t until I went back to my GP in tears as i couldn’t take the constant running to the loo day and night, everything I ate went straight through me it was completely ruining my life. I was finding it difficult to leave the house and do simple chores like shopping. My general practitioner referred me to see a doctor at hospital who also kept telling me it was irritable bowel syndrome until after having a very painful colonoscopy done the doctors finally diagnosed ulcerative colitis and i was put on steroid and Pentasa.

I now have my ulcerative colitis under control and take no medication for it. All I take is 1 Actimel everyday and that seems to work for me, my problem is from may this year I have been in agony with lower back pain which seems to be worse in the middle of the night, which does not help that i have to get up at 4.45am to go to work. I’m so tired and lacking in energy due to lack of sleep, my back pain has got alot worse that I recently visited my general practitioner and he said I also have fluid on my joints which would explain why my knees are so painful.

I am like a woman of 90 years old getting out of bed.

Can anyone please help? Is this part of having ulcerative colitis? My gp has referred me to see a rhuematolgy doctor, just waiting for appointment to come, has anyone else had joint problems with ulcerarative colisits and how is the best way to treat joint pain? I have not had a flare up for quite a few months now which is why i,m thinking is this joint pain anything to do with my colitis?

written by Sue

submitted in the Colitis Venting Area