Skin inflammation, aching joints

[EDZEL]

I really wish I had found this forum a long time ago!

For years, off and on, I have had small scaly patches of skin appear in varioius places about my body. I mentioned it once to my GP and she just said 'it might be an allergy to something' but didn't seem interested in following it up.. I have also had the very occasional bout of joint pain and once in '88 had a seemingly random condition where my knees and ankles swelled up, as did my fingers so that I could hardly open a jar (was in my twenties at the time!) and I felt a bit fluey - it happened the day I started a new job so I ignored it and carried on and ended up being given anti-inflammatories so strong that I felt as high as a kite and had to stop taking them! My voice also went very husky... it was just after my first ever trip to Germany so I think I assumed it was something I'd picked up abroad and I left it at that... but now I'm wondering...!

My point is (in case you're all wondering (I know I would be, LOL) that having read some of the posts here I notice that skin inflamation seems to be a feature and part of some IBDs, as does joint pain (which I get quite rarely) and stiffness (often these days) for some people and so I am now wondering if that could be the explanation for mine... would like to hear from other people about their UC experiences...

 

[Amanda D]

Hi Edzel,

I too recently found this forum and am so happy I did!
But I was diagnosed with Crohn's so my joint pain and aches probably aren't related to yours, especially since we aren't on the same meds. Just wanted to give you a hello and hope you find some answers soon!

 

[Rossy]

Hi, i have UC and have always had skin issues, just now i have many spots,boils its quite acne like and i have a zillion planal warts over my back and shoulders, they are always there but much more apparent when i'm unwell. I do have scaly skin on my back, its like keratin sun spots, not that my back has had much sun exposure over the years, so dunno what it is, docs look at it sometimes, but like the warts its probably too extensive to treat and i guess its not that bothersome, they just move on to other more pressing issues.
The joint pain is common with UC and its given me a fair bit of bother over the years, feet, knees but mostly shoulder pain, prior to UC dx i was told it was frozen shoulders, now i know different. These of course are only two EIM, many others. Over the years my UC has just grumbled on so have the EIMs.
Its quite likely that your skin/joint issues are UC related, they perhaps manifest more when your UC is flaring.

 

[EDZEL]

Hi and thanks to you both for your replies! I had not really twigged that the little scaly patches might be connected to my UC until reading this forum - like my GP, I think I just assumed that they were some kind of minor allergy to something I am eating, but since they are not really troublesome (just puzzling!) I hadn't thought to investigate further. It's been suggested on another thread that I have my vitamin B12 and D levels checked and I will see my GP about this, because perhaps that might be related? Will need to research further I think!

I'm not sure if the skin issues relate to periods of flare though- the UC is quiet at the moment but I do have a largeish patch on my scalp, which is rather annoying! :-(