Stiffness? is this common?

[Lam123]

Hi Everyone,

I have had minor joint issues for awhile. My lower back is sore when I bend the wrong way or pull something heavy like my son in a wagon. I have knee issues only when in a flare. I have noticed the last few weeks my hands are stiff and sore at times. I'm most stiff first thing in the morning. I feel stiffness and mild soreness all over. Could this be arthritis? Or possibly from humira?

 

[JMC]

Yes, stiffness is common, I have problems with my pelvis and fingers, for example. If you agree with the MAP theory as the cause of the Crohns and other "autoimmune" (sic. they are not autoimmune) diseases then this is easy to explain as it is consistent with a systemic infection of MAP.

 

[theOcean]

It could be arthritis, or it could be a temporary extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's, like how you get sore knees when you're in flare. Maybe let your GI know, or see if you can consult with a rheumatologist if it continues.

 

[Lam123]

Thanks for the replies! I see my GI in April, so I will ask then.

 

[Farmwife]

Ya, my Grace gets a lot of stiffness in the mornings or if she takes a nap. Hers is caused from her arthritis (JIA)
If it gets worse or even more bothersome PLEASE call the GI and or GP inform them.

 

[Lam123]

I did mention it at my last GI appt and he told me to keep an eye on it and if needed he will get me in to see a rhemy dr for it.

 

[Shanen]

So glad you brought this topic up. My hands, shoulders and hips are very stiff. Hot water from the shower helps in the morning to loosen up for while. By the end of the day they are so stiff that even writing with a pen or getting up after sitting too long is painful. I had a blood test for rheumatoid factor this morning and the result was <15 with the range being 0-29 UL/ml. Ugh. I'm thinking that being mid range is not going to be terribly definitive.

 

[Farmwife]

Shanen you don't have to have a high RF number to have arthritis.
There are different types of arthritis's that it could be.
Just having IBD puts both of you at higher risk for certain types.
A Rheumatologist should be able to help to see which one it could be.

I'll page in Maya142
She's my go-to gal for these questions.

 

[Shanen]

Thank you! Just when I think things are leveling out and under control CD has yet another learning experience.

 

[Farmwife]

I'm happy to help. BTW, I love your kittens. We have a 6 month old barn cat and boy oh boy is she full of it but is my baby.

 

[Maya142]

Rheumatoid Factor is associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis. You can have a low RF and still have RA, there's another blood test (Anti-CCP I think) that is more accurate.

Spondyloarthropathies like Ankylosing Spondylitis and Axial Spondyloarthritis are more common with IBD. CCFA has a good explanation of the different kinds of arthritis: http://www.ccfa.org/assets/pdfs/arthritiscomplications.pdf

Both my daughters have AS. My younger one also has IBD. Stiffness (particularly morning stiffness) is very common and is associated with inflammatory arthritis. Lower back pain is also very common with SpA or AS - in AS the sacroiliac joints (SI joints) are always involved. Pain that improves with movement is also characteristic of inflammatory arthritis. Spondylitis.org has a lot of good information.

Lam123, I would try and see a rheumatologist if possible.

 

[Shanen]

FW - The kittens are twins and are now almost 4 years old. Older and slower but still full of it.

Maya142- Thank you for the information. I'll look at the links you posted. A lot of the time I get more information from the people here.

LAM123 - I apologize for intruding on your thread. I got a a bit enthusiastic when you introduced a topic I'm just trying to figure out for myself. :ysmile:

 

[Lam123]

Shanen, no problem at all. We are all here to support one another and try to figure out this crazy disease.

 

[Maya142]

Shanen, if you do already see a rheumatologist I would ask him or her about other forms of arthritis - there are plenty besides RA!

The pain while sitting that you mention is VERY common with AS. Both my daughters have a hard time sitting through class or a movie. Sleeping is hard too. My older one is doing pretty well on Humira and Methotrexate and her pain and stiffness is much, much better. The younger one is still not doing well - she's on Remicade and Imuran but has very aggressive arthritis.

It's important to get it diagnosed and treated because just like IBD it can get completely out of control.

For both my girls, just an Anti-TNF was not enough - they need to be on an immunomodulator + Anti-TNF.

 

[Shanen]

I'm guessing a rheumatologist is my next referral. I am also on Imuran and Remicade and was hoping the Remicade would help more.

 

[my little penguin]

Good luck with the Rheumo
DS also has JSpA in his hands due to Ibd
He was dx while on humira

 

[Lady Organic]

I have mild IBD arthritis in my hands and wrists, stiffeness in the morning and increased pain if I overuse my joints during the day (just the wrists). I do also have sometimes pain in my shoulders and elbows when I wake up. I have been proposed Humira already as it is supposed to help for arthritis, but I refused as i want to keep biologics only for last resorts for my crohns. so the fact that this symptoms started in you while on humira makes the possibily your joint issues are drug-related as you pointed out. sometimes, even benin mild medication can give arthritic symptoms... A friend of mine was in real pain bc of statins to ''control'' cholesterol! The doctor wanted to give him medication for his pain and was clueless about possible side effects, my friend refused, decided to stop the statins and joints came back to normal.
For my arthritis with a rheumy, I have tried methotrexate which didnt help. I tried a brief course of 15mg of prednisone to see how my joints would react and it helped with morning stiffeness, but not with wrist pain. I then started sulfasalazine but stopped it because i Thought I was getting side effects. Now I just live with it as my condition has improuved greatly since 2 years when it first started. I have somewhat learned to accept it.

 

[Azjazer8]

I am still undiagnosed

However, I deal with an incredible amount of upper body shoulder and neck stiffness when in a flare. It has been so bad that it has been causing tension headaches that are debilitating. GI doc prescribed Tylenol/Codein 3 since I had been taking Ibuprofen which in turn caused my GI to not heal properly and bleed constantly.

I also get the pain in knees, an at my ankle joints when in a flare. I also get "crackling" in my shoulders and neck when I stretch them out, similar to what you might hear in something with arthritis.

Also get sudden onset of a fever at the start of a flare up which causes IMMENSELY painful joint and muscle stiffness/pain. I lay under my comforter and cry for a few hours waiting for the tylenol to kick in.

 

[Farmwife]

Have you seen a Rheumatologist Azjaz8 ?

Your fever than bad joint pain lines right up with arthritis.
You should get it checked.

 

[Azjazer8]

I have not. I never really thought about it since it isn't a chronic issue and seems to come and go with flares. I'll research and bring that up to the doctor next time I see him though. I sure hope it's not something that will get worse since I am a musician and need the full range of my upper extremeties!

 

[Azjazer8]

Been researching RA and others. RA definitely seems to fit my symptoms. I am stiffer in the morning and at night. I also get stiff if I sit for too long. I always thought it was normal but appatently not to the extent I get it. I've also been having sharp pains in my hips that are pretty annoying with some skin nodules the size of a marble on my hip. Also a sign of RA. Very strange. I'll ask the GI doc for a referral.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Farmwife]

Ya, I was thinking RA (but I'm not a doc, just a mom),
a lot of meds used to treat IBD will also treat RA.
My 6 year old has progressive Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).
Its so important to get it under control......even at the early stages.

Keep us posted!