To those with joint pains

[jimmyf]

Good morning,
I'm interested to hear from people who have joint pain, especially those taking/have taken Imuran and suffering Crohn's disease. I was interested to know if the joint pain comes from an IBD related arthritis, or does the drugs cause their own issues that cause pain, like chewing away at your joint cartiledge? or something or other etc. Really, my main question is is it still viable to take a drug if you are getting joint pain. i.e., If it is just a pain that is doing no damage to your body, just pain, then I feel that thats ok, but if the pain is because the drug is damaging your joints somehow, then that's not ok.
Thanks.

 

[guest9933]

I have ankylosing spondilitis it is a form of arthtrirtis that comes from IBD and it hurts like hell right now as I'm typing this my shoulder is killing me I used to take simponi for it but now I'm on remicade

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I don't know about the medication but I do know many meds do cause pains. Also IBD commonly affects our joints and bones.

 

[lynx]

at the beginning of a major flare last year my joints ached all over. At that time I was not taking any medications. So I would say that something was going on. The only thing that seemed to help was a hot shower and that was only temporary.

 

[Switalski]

JimmyF,
Before I was diagnosed with Crohn's, my joints, especially my hips, ached constantly. Prednisone cured that, but too much Prednisone can cause a necrosis of the hip. That's why they usually give you a Dexa-scan or two while you're on Prednisone. In March, my sacrum started aching, arthritis I think, but Remicade has helped relieve the pain and stiffness. So, long story short, some medicines can cause joint pain, but overall, I think they help. If you are experiencing joint pain whle on medication, you need to bring it up with your doctor now. Don't wait. There are at least two to three times per week that I think back how badly my joints ached before I was diagnosed and how happy I am now that the joint pain, with the exception of my back, no longer exists - because of medicine.

 

[robbo87]

I have had a lot of joint pain the past during flare ups and every now and again, Most particularly In my knees where at one point it was almost impossible for me to walk. IBD can cause inflammation in the joints and causes some form of arthritis, Not sure if any meds are known to also cause this although I know long term use of prednisolone can damage your joints.

 

[jimmyf]

Hi evy1 thanks for the replies, as I mentioned earlier on the Imuran, I got really bad knees to the point where I couldn't walk properly and then I stopped taking Imuran and presto the joint pain was gone. Well, I gave it two days without the Imuran and my knees were great again, but I started to get symptoms/stomach pain etc. again so last night I started taking Imuran again and hey presto, the knee pain is back again and I can tell it will be worse tomorrow. So definitely for me, the Imuran is causing knee pain. (within 8 hours of taking a pill 50mg!!) I never had pain in the knees before I started taking Imuran. I'm gonna check with the GP tomorrow about options but i must say that apart from the knee pain the Imuran works pretty well on my crohn's (so far)

 

[Mountaingem]

Jimmyf, I have joint pain, ankylosing spondilitis as will as problems with the tendons in my knees caused by Crohn's. You definitelys sound like it's Imuran-related; maybe your doctor could switch up your medications or give you something for your knee pain.

 

[Pam58]

Drug Induced Lupus

Hi Jimmy - I'm on Humira, and about three months after I started it, all of my fingers on both hands started to become stiff, painful, and tender. My G.I. was no help; said Humira is supposed to help joint pain. After visiting some forums, I found some Crohn's patients who had "drug induced Lupus"; a disease caused by some medications (including Remicade and Humira). I had a bad flare up in 2009, and had joint pain, but that was due to the flare up, and Entocort cured it after 3 weeks. I don't have any symptoms of a flare up now, so I have an appointment to see a Rheumatologist. Hopefully she will be able to determine if it's just oesteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or Lupus induced due to the Humira. Of course, I don't know what I'm going to do if I'm taken off Humira. Already tried Remicade, and it didn't work. So like a lot of other Crohn's patients, the choice of drugs that can help are diminishing.

Pam

 

[jimmyf]

Hey evy1, I saw the GP today and he advised that i'm definitely having a reaction to the Imuran, and that the pain in the knees is just general joint pain caused by Imuran, not the drug doing some type of internal damage to the knee. That being said, he advised that I should take half a 50mg pill a day until my body gets used to it and see if the joint pain goes away, then go up to 50mg. If the joint pain doesn't go away in the near future, then a new drug will have to be taken I would assume. I think I would prefer to deal with joint pain than stomach pain at the moment, I'll let you know if my mind changes on that!!! I hope this information can help someone.

 

[tlc-x]

I'm undiagnosed, so not on any medication and my knees are the worst. They ache and feel swollen and hurt. So for me, it's not medication related, just one of my symptoms.

 

[Crohns2011]

I noticed that 8 months before I was diagnosed I'd have random joint pains throughout those months nonstop and this was BEFORE medication! I've been sick for 9 months and they found out it was Crohn's in december. Along with Joint pain I have random nausea even though I've taken Lialda 10 weeks already, excessive gas, excessive bloat, grumbling noises, I can feel my intestines constrict my food sometimes ouch, still have diarrhea up to 5-7 times a day....better than the 10-15 that it was though. You name it....

They only put me on Lialda!!!!!

 

[tishbite]

I took Imuran and it made the joints in my knees so painful I couldn't walk. Most bizzare side effect ever. Well along with high fever, rash on legs etc. I think it's safe to say I am allergic to it. Anyway, I have joint pain still and I think it is mostly from the inflammation from the crohn's. It effects the joints and intestines/colon/wherever.

 

[jimmyf]

hi tishbite, was the rash behind your knee? i.e. back of your leg between your upper calf and lower hamstring?

 

[DougUte]

I do have aches and pains, especially in my left knee, but I don't know if this is due to crohn's or not. My G.I. is keeping an eye on it for now.

 

[David]

Those of you with joint, muscle, or bone pain, please be sure to get your vitamin D levels checked. Crohnies are VERY COMMONLY deficient and proper supplementation can make a world of difference. Please read this thread for more information.

 

[tishbite]

My rash was on my right shin. I had a painful rather large lump on my shin and red irritated area around it. Like a bumpy rash. My pain was right in my knee caps. I had to be carried into the hospital because I couldn't walk. Weird stuff. I wonder if anyone else who has taken imuran has ever had A similar experience with the excutiating knee pain.