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Crohn's & Arthritis


Fri, October 13, 2017 3:18 PM

I am interested to gain some feedback/hear others experiences with arthritis symptoms and Crohn's Disease.  I was diagnosed with Crohn's at age 9 (now 27) and luckily have been in remission for a few years now (I have been on Remicade since 2012).  However, my joints (mostly hands, ankles) still bother me constantly despite being active and healthy. Most recently, my hands have been experiencing a lot of pain and I am finally going to see a Rheumatologist next week.

Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms?  Have you had any success with treatments/therapies/etc.?  Any input/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 

FPO tstro90
Joined Oct 13, 2017

Sun, November 26, 2017 7:13 PM

Reply posted for tstro90.

In reference to still having hand and ankle pain even though being on Remicade. 

I was on Remicade for years and then built titers so therefore I am no longer on that medication, but I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis before changing to other medications. 

I was tried on Cimzia for the last year and three months and just this past week was started on Stelara (so, I can't really comment on how well it works but I can follow-up in a later post to let you know). Although, I will note that I do not feel Cimzia has done much, and I will caveat with I was on it previously in late 2014 after my ileostomy surgery to help with my Crohn's not my RA without relief. 

So, at any rate to sum things up for you ... everyone's body reacts differently to meds, which we all know. But to help in the interim if you can using paraffin wax baths (i guess that's what you'd call them) really help with my hand pain (I do them every morning so that I can move). And for the ankles, I find stretching and sometimes using a heating pad (at night usually) helps. Also, if you can elevate your feet later in the day if you've been on them a lot that day it should help too. 

I really hope this helps. Good luck and hopefully the Rheumatologist goes/ went well.

Always,

Tiffany

FPO tiffanyalways
Joined Nov 26, 2017

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