Arthritis and Crohn's Disease

[remann]

I have been in remission with my Crohn's disease for about 25 years. Over the past year, I have begun having very painful joint and muscle pain all over my body. Some days it is hard to stand up. The pain is always in lower back and hips, but can "appear" on any part of my body at any time. Does anyone else have these types of symptoms. I'm just wondering since the Crohn's inflammation is no longer in my colon that it is now in my joints.

 

[ronroush7]

Maybe you should see a rheumatologist.

 

[Jabee]

Tagging Maya142 whose daughters have ankylosing spondylitis. I am sure she’ll advise you to see a rheumatologist and have some imaging done. It sounds like you may have inflammatory arthritis. Depending on the type, it can flare independently of your crohn’s.

 

[Maya142]

Yes - definitely see a rheumatologist. There is a type of arthritis, Spondyloarthritis, which is associated with IBD. It often affects the sacroiliac joints (causing lower back pain) and hips. However, any joint can be involved - knees, ankles, hands, feet etc. It can also jump around - for example, yesterday my daughter was complaining most about her SI joints and lumbar spine, today it's her knees and feet.

Morning stiffness and pain which gets better with movement and worse with rest are signs of inflammatory arthritis.

Spondylitis.org has a lot of good info. CCFA also has some good info:
http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/assets/pdfs/arthritiscomplications.pdf

Good luck!

 

[remann]

Thank you all! I suspect you are right and am in the process of getting a referral to a rheumatologist. The symptoms you describe are exactly mine. I never know what part(s) will be hurting when I wake up. I feel very blessed that I have done so well with the Crohn's disease over the years. Hopefully I can get the Arthritis under control. You all will never know how much I appreciate your replies.

 

[Amy75]

This is just the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it??

 

[Anna's Bandit]

Great, if this happens to me I will be sent to the old folks home for sure. I'll be In a wheelchair with a bed-pan under it. I already have issues with my spine, neck, shoulders, hips and osteoporosis/ osteopenia. ( etc )

20 years ago I saw my PCP and said "how come I feel like I am 96 years old when I am 36 years old."
A year after that I started having constant yellow watery diarrhea. What do you know, 9 years later I was diagnosed with UC. Now diagnosed with Crohn's.

 

[MizzSarah]

I saw a rheumatologist not too long ago and they determined I have inflammatory arthritis. I’ve got a hernia in my lumber spine and issues with all my joints.

It’s good to know where your joints stand. I go for yearly bone density exams as well.