Bad joint pain

[afidz]

So, I have always had pretty stiff joints, and my spine is definitely curved, but lately my sciatica on my right side and my arm on my right side has been killing. I barely have any muscle strength in my hand, and my thumb is always swollen. to put it perspective, I couldn't pick up my phone with my right hand the other day, I didn't have enough strength to grasp it. I am not sure if it is related to Crohn's or maybe something else is going on. I need to stop acting like its not a problem and go to the doctor, but lately, every time I go to any doctor I am made to feel like an idiot for going so I have been kind of avoiding it. any advice? It might also have to do with the fact that I mainly sleep on my right side

 

[David]

You poor thing A couple things:

1. If your doctor makes you feel like an idiot for going, find a new doctor.

2. The symptoms you're describing definitely need to be evaluated. They sound like they're potentially somewhat serious so don't let your concerns about being an idiot stop you as you are definitely NOT an idiot.

 

[Jennifer]

Afidz, with joint pain, even if its Crohn's related, the best person to see is a Rheumatoid specialist. You do need testing for RA as well so we can hopefully rule that out. See you on the chat sometime soon!

 

[afidz]

Crabby that appointment that I made with a GP called today and said they don't have appointments for new patients until middle of December. Even though it said I successfully booked an appointment next week. So, the hunt goes on.

 

[Jennifer]

Blah. I've never booked an appointment online before. My guess is they don't have a feature that includes new patients. Do you need the link again Afidz?

 

[afidz]

No I think I'm going to get a referral from my GI week

 

[Spooky1]

I also have this issue afidz, my spine is badly curving now, and i have absolutely no muscle strength to hold it up. I so understand not having the strength in the body. epsom salts baths (if you can safely get in one) do help of a morning, just to get going. My doctor looked at my knees being red and said there is nothing they can do about that, he offered stronger painkillers.

incidently, we read in the paper over here that doctors practices are paying for them not to refer new patients. unfortunately its the nhs, useless really, but i understand whats happening there with you joint issues.

 

[afidz]

My entire body is hurting. Walking hurts. Sitting hurts. Laying down hurts. I just want to relax and sleep. I fell asleep crying last night and woke up this afternoon still crying. I broke down and took aleeve to help with the joint pain and I hope that I didn't do any damage by taking it. It did help for a little bit, but all the pain is back and I can't take it again for a few more hours. Mentally, I can't handle any more pain. My house is a mess and I need to do laundry in a bad way but I am hurting to much to do any of it. I know Andrew wouldn't mind helping, but I feel bad asking him after he works all day. I have an appointment with a new surgeon tomorrow (crossing my fingers) and hopefully we can go forward with scheduling surgery. I also have an appointment with my GI (really its a shame I have to talk to him about gross stuff, he's a hottie ) and I am going to ask him to do a full blood work up and get a referral for a rheumatologist to get this joint pain under control. I am heading down the right path and hopefully all this can be controlled soon, but I feel so helpless right now. I want to feel and look normal

 

[Jennifer]

Let us know how the appointment goes. Crossing my fingers for you! For real. it's hard to type like this.

 

[Spooky1]

good luck with your appointments afidz. There are plenty here that know what you are going through.

 

[afidz]

****I ALREADY POSTED IN THE OTHER THREAD, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD COPY AND PASTE INTO THIS ONE TOO****

Hello everyone
So, I went to the general surgeon today that the plastic surgeon I saw last week reffered me to, and for once I was not turned away (yet) He thinks that he can help me, but only time will tell. He is going to go over all my medical records in the next few days and schedule a follow up to discuss our options. At that point his assistant will start working with the plastic surgeon to see when they both have a day where they do the surgery together. So I am thinking we will have a surgery date by the end of the month. The general surgeon doesn't think I will be hospitalized for to long (maybe a week or a little more) so thats good news. But he agrees with me, I can't go back to work for a long time. If we want this surgery to take and the hernias not to come back, its going to be a long recovery process. The beginning of the end is near?

 

[Jennifer]

Thanks for the update afidz! Hope all goes well so you can finally start to feel better. Keep us posted on the date.

 

[afidz]

So, I was put on Asacol to help maintain remission since I can't go back on Humira yet, and I immediately had bad reactions to it. I had very bad diarrhea, stomach cramps, my joint pain got a lot worse, and my back started hurting really bad. I was in bed for 4 days, lost 11 lbs and barely ate anything. My GI took me off of it and I am feeling better now but I am still in quite a bit of pain. My GI called today to give me the results of my blood tests, they were all pretty bad, iron being the worst. Its 18 and its supposed to be over 41. So they are sending me to a hematologist for persistent anemia, and from that point we will try to figure out how to get my blood levels back up. Can anemia cause joint pain? I am worried that I won't get my levels back up in time for surgery and I will have to post pone it even more than I already have. I can't go on like this anymore. I NEED this surgery ASAP and if I have to put it off longer I am going to get very upset.
oh yea, my GI has me taking iron, a multi vitamin and B12, do you guys have any other suggestions on supplements that can help me get straightened out?

 

[Jennifer]

What form of iron are you currently taking and what dose? I know there was talk of infusions once you see the specialist and that should help a lot.

As for the joint pain, a quick google search suggests that anemia can cause joint pain.

"People who are anemic experience a number of problems, most notably fatigue. Joint pain is common problem caused by the body's inability to carry oxygen to the joints. The problem is particularly acute at the extremities and many anemic people experience pain and swelling in the joints of their hands and feet." http://www.ehow.com/about_5616320_anemia-joint-pain.html

 

[afidz]

He just told me today to start the iron and B12, when I saw him last week he said it would be ok if the multi vitamin had it so I didn't buy those. Thanks for the link I will take a look at it.

 

[Jennifer]

My multivitamin only has 18mg of iron which isn't much. As you know I take 650mg of iron per day now. Getting my iron tested again soon to see if I'm good to start taking less cause mine was low even on 325mg per day.

With the B12 I took 1,000mcg per day, the kind that dissolves under your tongue. Tried that for a month and didn't go up, did two a day still nothing, tried another kind you swallow as well which also did nothing so now I do B12 shots every other month. The numbers have been good ever since (still low right before the next shot but not too low, if you do start getting the shot, don't test your B12 until a couple days before your next shot).

 

[David]

He just told me today to start the iron and B12, when I saw him last week he said it would be ok if the multi vitamin had it so I didn't buy those. Thanks for the link I will take a look at it.

As Crabby alluded to but much more diplomatically than me: your GI doesn't appear to understand vitamins/minerals and Crohn's Disease.

Do you have the actual results of your vitamin B12 test?

 

[afidz]

No I don't, but I will be in that area on Monday so I can get it from them then.

 

[barrett]

With your iron being that low, you should really be getting injections now. Oral vitamins and supplements rarely work for me. I have been on B12 shots for 7 years now and iron shots when needed.

I also experience a lot of joint pain. Hot baths with epson salts, hot and cold compresses, massage, and chiropractor help a little.

Good luck with everything.

 

[acheallova]

In addition to above, i sleep on a heating pad for my back, a cervical one for my neck or hips; whichever hurts worse that night, and a twin size heating blanket on top to help alleviate the joint pain. Other supplements that could potentially help are glucosamine/chondrotin in pill form or elations as a drink.
Good luck with surgery. Blessings and prayers with you. Hope all goes well and you get great results! Muah- hugs-

 

[Nelle]

I have the same muscle/joint pain when I am having a flare up of crohns. I did see a
Rheumatologist and she said it was soft tissue arthritis which is associated with Crohn's disease. I am still wondering about that as I have myself convinced I have fibromyalgia. I am now currently having a flare, muscle/joint pain included, and am deciding on starting humira or remicade. I am seeing a new GI specialist who is really good and he said the only way to determine that this is not arthritis is if I go into remission but my muscle/joint pain flares up.

 

[Jennifer]

Nelle when I went on Humira my joint pain went away (I have osteoarthritis). Hopefully your pain goes away as well.

 

[DustyKat]

Hey Nelle,

Where is your pain located?

Pain that is located in the larger joints e.g. knees, ankles etc. is normally associated with inflammation in the bowel and should resolve when you receive treatment but pain that is located in the axial skeleton e.g. the spine, ribs, skull can flare up independently to what is happening in your bowel.

Dusty. xxx

 

[Spooky1]

Dusty, thanks for being more informative than my specialists and understand more than all my medical team. You really are special the way you have researched what i very rarely have the energy too. David is another really informative one too. I am totally greatful for this site and you input.

luv yer tonnes.

Diane (with joint pain and flaring, lol)

 

[araceli]

So, I have always had pretty stiff joints, and my spine is definitely curved, but lately my sciatica on my right side and my arm on my right side has been killing. I barely have any muscle strength in my hand, and my thumb is always swollen. to put it perspective, I couldn't pick up my phone with my right hand the other day, I didn't have enough strength to grasp it. I am not sure if it is related to Crohn's or maybe something else is going on. I need to stop acting like its not a problem and go to the doctor, but lately, every time I go to any doctor I am made to feel like an idiot for going so I have been kind of avoiding it. any advice? It might also have to do with the fact that I mainly sleep on my right side

Sorry you are in pain.
Some people with Cronh's develop ankylosing spondalitis. Try a rehumatologist.
Hope you feel better soon.