ulcerative colitis and links with joint pain

[littlethingsjo]

I had a total proctocolctomy with ileal pouch formation surgery in May 2004 after years and years of suffering with Ulcerative Colitis.  I'm taking codeine, loperamide and mebevarine daily to help with the constant diarrhoea and pain.  During the Christmas break I had a horrible flair up (maybe pouchitis) so upped to codeine.  Subsequent to this I started having the most excruciating pains in my joints.  I couldn't lift my arms, walk properly or turn over in bed without help.
My GP put me on Tramadol and Steroids and referred me to a Rheumatologist.  He has confirmed I have Seronegative Arthritis.  I am waiting for an endoscopy appointment, and have been off work since Christmas.
I am interested in the link between UC and joint pain.  If you read this and can see a similar pattern, I would be very interested in hearing your stories.

[peggrilovesvic]

hi i am a 38yrold female who is nov was diagnosed with having a 2.7 mass on my adrenal gland and a 7mmnudgel on my lung also they said i had swollen and inflamed colon, for year before i have severe allergic reactions to different stuff and severe nasua and weight gain and severe bloatingand swelling.  3 months after being diagnosed i woke up with the worst joint pain i have arthritis in knees but this was so painful i felf finesitting but to just stand up was so extremely painful almost unbearable i just reciently had a colonospy done and they removed a 7cm pollip dr said everything looked great a bout 5 months ago couldnt go to the bathroom but have always been irregular at that time dr started me and since then have tried everything and nothing worked after i started having severe joint pAIN  i started becoming severly allergic( more wors than last year )  to almost all medicines tapes, i woould experience hives so bad would end up at er i finally got sent to an allergist who is still trying to figure out what is going on , i have had the colonspy done and told everything is fine,i have had 2 bowel movements with mucus in them freaked me out at first one before colonospy and one about a wk later,i am in constant pain in joints, severly bloated i look like im having 10- 10lb babies that are well over due, am nasuaded all the time and becoming allergic to everything which i NEVERR was beyond 3 months ago, i just got referred to a specialist for my adrenal gland but they have run so many test and nothing i know my body and self and this IS NOT normal for me at all  i am sick and tired of being sick and being in constant pain does anyone have and idea what is happening to me

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
I am sorry to hear about your medical problems. IBS like symptoms, body aches and joint pains can be due to Lupus, Crohn’s disease, Celiac, or ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, malabsorption syndromes like sprue, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
So, yes, there is a strong link between ulcerative colitis and arthritis. Arthritis may begin before the actual symptoms due to simultaneous inflammation of gut and joints or it may develop later. Treating the bowel symptoms of the disease will treat arthritis like symptoms too. Also, all other causes will need to be ruled out too. Take care!

The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.