Joint pain

[Terry57]

I'm having a lot of joint pain lately. My knee is swollen twice the size of the other one, my wrists, elbows, shoulders and my lower back are really hurting. Is this a side effect of crohns or a side effect of Humira? I've had crohns for almost 40 years and never had so many pains all over my body.

[willow24 Administrator]

Arthritis is a common side effect of Crohns. I was diagnosed with enteropathic arthritis after years of telling consultant I had joint pain. When he retired the new consultant referred me to a rheumatologist.

She stopped the mercaptopurine, commenced me on sulfasalizine and increased Humira to every 10 days with help from gastro consultant. This has seriously made joints a lot better - I still have sore days but moving is no longer a struggle and I can get up and down stairs again.

[Cbeckwall]

Hi Terry! How long have you been on Humira? Did you have joint pain before you went on Humira? The reason I ask is that I was put on Remicade infusions years ago and had serious joint pain. After six months on Remicade I had to stop. I was so bad I could not bend my knees and had real problems with my arms and hands. I couldn't do anything! It took me 2 years to get back to normal after I stopped Remicade.

[Terry57 in reply to Cbeckwall]

I have been oh Humira since last August. I didn't start having alot of joint pain until recently.

[Jenn111 in reply to Cbeckwall]

remicade is the devil!!it almost killed me and I ended up much worse off than before taking just 3 infusions. I've lost my career and livihood as well as the ability to go about my Adls. .I think this drug is the worst!! Happy to hear others experience

[Cbeckwall in reply to Jenn111]

I don't believe in any of the biologics! Yes, they work for some people, at least for awhile, but for many people they cause extremely bad reactions that can be life threatening. Specialists get a huge financial kickback prescribing these medications! Personally, I don't like rolling the dice!

[Astridnova]

I found that hypothyroidism, which goes with crohn's and B12 deficiency, was the principle cause of my aches and pains, especially unstable swollen knees. I was treated with dessicated pork thyroid and the swelling and pain reversed overnight, the instability not long after.