2) A few different types of arthritis can affect people with ulcerative colitis.
3) Your joint pain will likely improve as your IBD symptoms improve
When you have ulcerative colitis, it’s normal to have pain in your abdomen, along with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Up to 30 percent of people with ulcerative colitis also have swollen, painful joints. Joint pain and swelling are the most common non-GI symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
Here’s a look at the connection between ulcerative colitis and arthritis, as well as what you can do to protect your joints if you have ulcerative colitis.
Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Joint pain with swelling is the most common non-GI complication of IBD. The reason for the link may lie in genes that make people with IBD more susceptible to arthritis.
Two types of conditions can affect the joints in people with ulcerative colitis. Arthralgia is pain in the joints without any inflammation, or swelling and redness. Arthritis is joint pain with inflammation.
Arthritis that occurs with ulcerative colitis is a bit different than regular arthritis. For one thing, it typically starts at a younger age. Arthritis in people with ulcerative colitis doesn’t usually cause long-term joint damage. The joints swell up and become painful, but they return to normal once intestinal inflammation is under control.
A few different types of arthritis can affect people with ulcerative colitis:
Peripheral arthritis
Peripheral arthritis affects large joints in the arms and legs, such as the:
knees
ankles
wrists
shoulders
elbows
The level of pain tends to mirror your ulcerative colitis symptoms, so the more severe your ulcerative colitis is, the more severe your arthritis symptoms will be. Once your bowel symptoms go away, your joint pain and swelling should go away as well.
Axial arthritis
Axial arthritis is also known as spondylitis. It affects the lower spine and sacroiliac joints in the pelvis. Symptoms can begin months or even years before an ulcerative colitis diagnosis. Axial arthritis can cause the bones of your spine to fuse together, limiting your movement.
Ankylosing spondylitis
This is a more severe form of spinal arthritis. It can affect your flexibility, making your back stiff and bent over. This type of arthritis doesn’t improve when you treat ulcerative colitis symptoms.
The treatment your doctor recommends depends on the type of joint pain you have.
People can usually control peripheral arthritis pain and swelling with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or aspirin. These drugs can irritate the intestines and make inflammation worse, so they’re not usually a good option for people with ulcerative colitis.
Instead, your doctor might put you on one of these drugs, which bring down inflammation in both the joints and intestines:
steroid drugs, such as prednisone
the immune-suppressing drug methotrexate
disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
biologic drugs, such as adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab (Cimzia), and infliximab (Remicade)
Biologic drugs also treat axial arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. It’s important to stick with the treatment your doctor prescribes to prevent permanent joint damage if you have these more severe forms of arthritis.
In addition to taking medicine, you can try managing your joint pain with these home remedies:
Apply warm, wet compresses or a heating pad to achy joints.
Stretch the affected joints and do range-of-motion exercises. A physical therapist can show you the correct technique.
Ice and elevate the inflamed or swollen joint.
Remember to speak with your doctor before trying any home remedies.