Hi all I was diagnosed with arthritis in both my hips two weeks ago. (At the grand old age of 36) and after seeing orthopaedic consultant he thinks it may be related to my ulcerative colitis. I was quite Suprised at this as only have mild proctitis which is well controlled with pentasa. Anyone else have experience of This?
thanks in advance
vicki
Hi,
Yes, I'm 37 and severe joint pain with UC. It can effect your bones and I think about 10% get arthritis symptoms at least.
It's referred to as Enteropathic Arthritis, which is basically arthritis due to bowel disease, and it can manifest even if bowel disease is well controlled. I have it too, mainly lower back, legs, feet and hands, some days it's manageable, but it's increasingly getting harder to live with, constant pain can get you down, as of yesterday I was given Butrans pain relief patches, GP thinks active colitis makes it likely you don't absorb things in the gut so well, but I'm averaging 12 loo visits per 24hr, but if tablets painkillers aren't helping, maybe enquire about patch. Arthritis first appeared for me about 8 years ago, had uc 27 years and bowel cancer 7 years ago, try not to worry too much, it's not like rheumatoid where you become bent in joints, and it can come and go. I still work full time and travel abroad etc, it doesn't have to stop your life you just work your days around it.
I belong to the PMR forum but check this one as well because a very good friend has UC and suffers badly from swollen joints as well as pouchitis (most of the time). The arthritis seems to travel through out her body. She is scheduled for hip surgery.
Have any of you experienced a red rash that is very hot and painful and also comes and goes? This is her latest complication. She is 54 and has had UC for over 20 years. Any info is much appreciated since her Dr's don't have any ideas.
Hi Vicki
So sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis.
I've had groin pain for nearly 2 years and have always suffered with back pain after a fall. I was told I had spd after having my kids but my youngest is 18 months old and I still have it?! It's supposed to disappear when u give birth. My consultant said he doesn't think it's related but when I took the pred foam is pretty much went away but stopped the foam and the pain has come back. I'd put money on it being related to the UC but he won't seem to run any tests for me. How was yours diagnosed as would like to push for testing?
xxxx
Hi there, yep join the club! i was diagnosed with arthritis in Oct 13 then developed UC diagnosed in Jan-Feb 14 i too was very surprised when my consultant told me that both were linked together and put me on Sulfasalazine which does for both! but did not work for me so i went back on mesalazine and im still not there yet with it under control (sad face) i have been told to cut out sugar so im going to give that a go and cut out all sweet products. Good luck with your UC and arthiritis.
Thanks guys. Mummajojo I went to physio first because of lower back pain (in my area you self refer for physio, don't have to go thru gp which is handy). As my back got better my hip got worse and the physio referred me for an X-ray as they thought it was an impingement. The arthritis was diagnosed from X-ray. Could you go thru physio?
2daloo that's handy to know, if you can kill two birds with one stone sounds good I'll look into it and discuss with Ibd consultant.
phew I actually feel like I actually falling apart!
Hiya
I've been having physio for months but being treated for spd, (pubis dysfunction) from childbirth but the docs don't know why it hasn't dissapeared as it does normally after childbirth. The pain has eased since being on Asacol and pred foam but I swear it's linked but my consultant just laughs at me when I mention it & he says that the timing of the spd which started 18 months ago wouldn't link with my uc which was diagnosed in August 2014! I'd love an x-ray but guessing that he won't put me forward for one. Xx
Goodness the docs do annoy me sometimes they can be very blinkered! Would you have any luck going to your gp instead? X
Steph63306, thanks for that have Ben doing a bit of reading around enteropathic arthritis and it def seems to fit. I've been troubled with plantar fascitiitis and achilles tendinopathy this year too and it all fits into the picture. Am going to request some more blood tests I think. X
Hi Vicki
Just wondered how u were doing? How's the pain in your hips? I'm gonna just see how things go & as soon as the pain comes back with a vengeance, then I'll call my GP & ask for an x-ray. Just seems strange how I could hardly walk & since being on all these meds, the pain has pretty much disappeared! I've changed my consultant so fc I'll get more help with my new one! Xxxx
Hey i had uc and had a permanent ileostomy fitted 38 yrs ago i also have rheumatoid arthritis in my joints,currently on methotrexate x
HI, yes I was diagnosed with OA a month ago in R hip and have had UC since I was 19. At only 39 with 2 young children, it's all a bit rubbish! Need to speak to my UC consultant as to a connection as OA consultant was not sure.
Hi sory only just seen this. Well I went to see my gp who has referred me to a rheumatology consultant for possible enteropathic arthritis. Blood tests all normal but not had HLA B27 back yet which is a gene 70-90% of people with this type of arthritis have.
I've been doing a lot of reading and it's all very interesting. It's also linked with psoriasis which I don't have but my father does so obv this type of thing runs in the family.
I have my appointment next week so I'll let you know.
when are you next due to see your Ibd consultant?
xx
Yes jb that's how I feel lol it's a bit rubbish. I feel like I was lovely and healthy until I hit 30 and it's all gone horribly wrong since then, contracting cmv (potentially foetus damaging virus) in pregnancy, then rupturing my uterus during childbirth and almost dying. Followed by pancreatitis a few years late and diagnosis of ulcerative colitis the year after that and now blinking arthritis!!
ive done a lot of reading around enteropathic arthritis and it seems my symptoms fit (family history of psoriasis, enthesitis which is inflammation of where tendons meet bone, most commonly plantar fascitis and achilles tendonitis both of which I've had in the last year) I also had inflammatory back pain (when it's worse in the mornings or after periods of rest) earlier this year for about 4 months, which coincided with a flare of my uc symptoms.
ive asked for a referral to rheumatology because if it is that the are medicines you can take to treat both uc and arthritis which I'm quite exited about as it's a real pain (literally lol) not being alble to take ibuprofen.
seeing them next week so I can let you all know.
havent actually discussed with my Ibd consultant yet I though I'd see what rheumatology say.
hi. I have got arthritis (rheumatoid) 3 years ago I was diagnosed with uc the pan variety ( whole bowel & back passage) 6 weeks later I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis which I have in both eyes & body.Im waiting for biopsy results, as they have found my bowels have a lot of polyps now to join the ulcers. Fingers crossed. I was told MG was in my body & high dose of prednisalone I was taking brought it out. I now have ulcers in front passage & have been told they are not related to uc. I have also been told they are. I dont know which version is right one. Wish someone could help me. I could start a stall selling lucky white heather
Hi ,
to all those sufferers and whoever this may help.
I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in my mid twenties and enteropathic arthritis followed about 8yrs later (which il speak about after). I was told that it was a chronic condition , no cures ,not diet related and basically you got it for life etc.
Well i did a lot of research over the years and tried many herbs , drugs, diets etc which had little success. At my wits end i started drinking Coffee at the beginning of one of my normally 2week episodes (which i had never done previously , plus they say you should'nt ! 
Anyway, it worked , i noticed my colitis cleared up in a couple of days ! Result ! I've never looked back since and have not had colitis now for 10 yrs.
The reason i think the coffee worked for me is that it stimulates prostaglandin output which helps with building the soft mucosa's in the body such as the lining of the bowel reducing its permability. Now my specialist said that i was not cured but in remission, but hey , if im in remission for the rest of my life....then thats as good as a cure to me.
As for my Arthritis I am currently beating that as well. I spent two years on the Dmard 'methotrexate ' which helped get rid of all symptoms except for pain in my spine (which i had for a year or so) which the doctors wanted to give me an anti- TNF factor drug for....
Well ,again i found green tea has anti tnf factor in it naturally ,so i started drinking five cups a day and after a week i had no pain on waking in my spine which was the first time in a year.
Today i suffer from neither of these chronic illnesses touch wood and so am writing my experiences if only that it can help one person out there not to needlessly suffer or to be on strong drugs.
Just on an end note, i would also advise a good marine oil liquid supplement plus a good vit c regime.
Best of luck