Joint and Back Pain

[Ian_H]

Hey guys,

So the last 2 months I have been having joint pain in my knees and hips and fingers. Recently my upper back has been bothering me. Especially when walking up stairs and (up and down motions). Or if i hop a little, make a quick movement. Its like a sharp pain when it happens. I understand the Crohn's has arthritis in its territory but the back thing along with the joint pain. Anyone with AS have similar problems? So far its not impeding daily tasks just very annoying. Thinking maybe its time for a check?

Thanks for your help!

 

[ronroush7]

I am sorry for what you are going through.

 

[my little penguin]

Tagging Maya142

Spondyloarthritis comes with IBD and can be Independant of Gi flares
Ds has the kiddie version JSpA

https://www.spondylitis.org/Learn-About-Spondyloarthritis/Enteropathic-Arthritis

 

[Maya142]

I'd definitely see a rheumatologist if you can. It could be Spondyloarthritis. CCFA has a good description of the various kinds of arthritis associated with IBD: http://www.ccfa.org/resources/arthritis.html

Typically, in SpA, the lower back and hips are involved but really, any joint could be involved. My younger daughter has pretty much every joint involved - SI joints, lumbar spine, heels, hips, knees, fingers, elbows, jaw, ribs, shoulders etc. My older daughter has her ankles, SI joints, hips and lumbar spine involved.

My husband has his entire spine, SI joints, hips and one ankle involved. So it can really vary quite a bit.

Pain that gets better with movement and worse with rest is characteristic of inflammatory arthritis. Morning stiffness or stiffness with inactivity (sitting, sleeping etc.) are also common. My husband and girls have never complained of pain in their upper backs while walking up stairs, but we've learned anything is possible.

 

[Crohns and AS]

My symptoms, the pain was worse after periods of rest when I would go to get up. It would improve with movement but yes the pain was worse if I bent over or tried to move side to side some days worse than others. If I dropped something I dreaded the thought of picking it up because of the pain.

Stiffness was a big issue for me also. I have had mild joint pain in other places over the years (knees, chins, Achilles tendons, heel and shoulders) but I didn't pay much attention to it until my left hip was very painful which gradually moved up my left back to my rib cage and periodically stiff shoulders, chest and neck. This got worse over a years time, some days were manageable with pain relievers and others it would just take the edge off pain and stiffness. Much worse pain than I had experienced with joint stiffness over the years.

I had MRI's, xrays and blood work and was sent to a Spine Specialist and physical therapy but it didn't help me get any real answers until I was referred to a RA Specialist, seeing the RA specialist got me answers. I wish I went sooner.

I do know with my experience that AS is extremely painful to the point I was in the emergency room and to points I could hardly move from the pain and stiffness. I woke up like clock work every night in pain.

I was just diagnosed and on medication that is helping the symptoms and pain. The sharp pain has decreased but I can still feel inflamation and stiffness in my back, knees and achillies tendons and my hips are a little stiff still in the mornings.

Maya142 has good info.

 

[Ian_H]

Thanks guys I am contacting my GI today. I mentioned it to him before, when it was just my peripheral joints and since I am somewhat new to remicade, we decided to log how bad it was after an infusion. Seems better after an infusion then about 3 weeks after starts to get worse again until the next infusion. Thanks for all your input! Thankfully I am not in severe pain, just is very annoying!

 

[Crohns and AS]

Glad to hear, Remicade will treat both, it was one of the options my RA Specialist and GI Specialist talked me about.