I’m 46 and recently lost 40lbs apparently as a result of Crohn’s disease (just diagnosed). I’ve had joint pain for years, mostly in the hips, stiffness in the low back, and knees and more recently in the hands. I’ve also been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel.
My recent insight is that the stiffness and pain aren’t going to improve from mobility work - but mobility is. So when I take time to roll out and stretch my mobility increases but I still hurt like hell, especially first thing in the morning - which I now think is “OK”. Stiff and hurting, I still move better and I think that’s a good outcome. The pain is actually more manageable (psychologically) with this insight and I don’t hold back as much.
Do you take a glucomsamine supplement for the stiffness and joint pain? I have a family member recently diagnosed as well that experienced those issues and the supplements helped a lot.
Writing this from phone so excuse my grammar. Oh dear I looked that up sounds like a tough one to have. I immediately thought about probiotics but so far any of the peer reviewed stuff seems inconclusive but not ruled out. There seems to be less regarding glucomsamine as I’ve been looking that up for myself. The have thing I would do is to see if there are any adverse effects for chrons.
They think i might have rheumatoid arthritis, I seem to have some other muscle skeletal issues too. I’ve had to work around certain exercises to see what causes long term pain but I am slowly building up. Sounds like you are also working on your perception of the pain which I find helpful too.
Speaking of carpal tunnnel they found that after I had a bone scan. if you have might not hurt to get a bone scan just to do an overall check. Anyway the best thing is to keep up the strength and mobility within reason, as it’s even more important ad time goes on. Keeps you intuned with your body.
[quote]minimaltechno wrote:
Writing this from phone so excuse my grammar. Oh dear I looked that up sounds like a tough one to have. I immediately thought about probiotics but so far any of the peer reviewed stuff seems inconclusive but not ruled out. There seems to be less regarding glucomsamine as I’ve been looking that up for myself. The have thing I would do is to see if there are any adverse effects for chrons.
They think i might have rheumatoid arthritis, I seem to have some other muscle skeletal issues too. I’ve had to work around certain exercises to see what causes long term pain but I am slowly building up. Sounds like you are also working on your perception of the pain which I find helpful too.
Speaking of carpal tunnnel they found that after I had a bone scan. if you have might not hurt to get a bone scan just to do an overall check. Anyway the best thing is to keep up the strength and mobility within reason, as it’s even more important ad time goes on. Keeps you intuned with your body.[/quote]
I want to try glucosamine and I need to get back on probiotics - I don’t think it can hurt! I think I’ve had tests for RA but not sure, I’m going to talk with my GI when I go back in about the joint issues - looks like about 25% of Crohn’s have this . . . I’ve found it does help to pay attention to the pain and how I move, not dwell on it but examine it - I’ve used meditation to help as well.
I’ve also been found to have CT in both hands - most noticeable in the morning, doc said I could go awhile without surgery - but I’ve heard mixed results from that . . . I’ve been working on mobility in hips and knees and find that I can, once warmed up, squat without pain and a good range of motion - I also DL heavy - the pain and stiffness come later, but what I think I know now is that is separate from mobility, so I can increase my mobility and flexibility and still have the stiffness but that’s OK - I can work with that!
Thanks for the information and good luck in your training - stay in touch!
I have a related autoimmune arthritic condition. Exercise will help a little bit but the only way to live a normal life in my case was to get on the correct medication. Supplements never did anything for me. I would recommend you look into the biologicals (Humira, etc.) They can make a night and day difference.
[quote]seekonk wrote:
I have a related autoimmune arthritic condition. Exercise will help a little bit but the only way to live a normal life in my case was to get on the correct medication. Supplements never did anything for me. I would recommend you look into the biologicals (Humira, etc.) They can make a night and day difference. [/quote]
Just starting out . . . supposed to be “mild to moderate” - but there is only one area unaffected (sigmoid) - right now I’m on Ascaol (mesalamine) we’re hoping thats effective as its supposed to be easiest on the body, I dont know much about the biologicals - but the doc seemed to describe them as kind of a third tier of treatment options?
I am a physician Orthopaedic Surgeon and 2 of my 3 adult kids have IBD .1 UC and 1 with Crohns. I would continue to exercise/ lift as tolerated. The joint stiffness is part of the disease. I would think as symptoms improve so will the stiffness. If not it may be a failure of therapy. We all get stiff particularly in am with age. I would avoid supplements except caffeine or a pre work out.
I believe what is important is to reverse your nutritional status. You need to have an increase in calories to fight the disease and rebuild strength. YOU CAN DO IT. It will be hard . Consider a nutrional consult from a referral from ypur GI doc. Its all about increasing your calories at first. Also have your vitamin D level checked and testerone level. If your symptoms do not improve .
I would continue to advance in treatment. Biologics like humira work very well.
Good luck and believe in yourself . This disease will test you daily. Do not settle for poor clinical response to initial medical therapy. Avoid chronic prednisone therapy if possible. God bless you.
[quote]clee78 wrote:
I am a physician Orthopaedic Surgeon and 2 of my 3 adult kids have IBD .1 UC and 1 with Crohns. I would continue to exercise/ lift as tolerated. The joint stiffness is part of the disease. I would think as symptoms improve so will the stiffness. If not it may be a failure of therapy. We all get stiff particularly in am with age. I would avoid supplements except caffeine or a pre work out.
I believe what is important is to reverse your nutritional status. You need to have an increase in calories to fight the disease and rebuild strength. YOU CAN DO IT. It will be hard . Consider a nutrional consult from a referral from ypur GI doc. Its all about increasing your calories at first. Also have your vitamin D level checked and testerone level. If your symptoms do not improve .
I would continue to advance in treatment. Biologics like humira work very well.
Good luck and believe in yourself . This disease will test you daily. Do not settle for poor clinical response to initial medical therapy. Avoid chronic prednisone therapy if possible. God bless you.[/quote]
I appreciate the information and encouragement - both are needed! Working out has kept me moving and motivated.
I printed this information to go over with my doctor tomorrow. I am going to discuss the stiffness and joint pain. I’m using a product called Raw Meal and eat lots of yogurt, but it’s been a challenge to get calories in - testosterone has been low for a long time and I’ve been on Vit D supplements for several years, so I’ll have all that looked in light of this as well. The only other supplement I use is creatine.
Thank you again, so much! I’ll post again after my appointment.
abx719, how long have you been on your meds? And are you experiencing any side affects?
They have yet to put me on any until I get its confirmed with a trend of tests.
[quote]minimaltechno wrote:
abx719, how long have you been on your meds? And are you experiencing any side affects?
They have yet to put me on any until I get its confirmed with a trend of tests. [/quote]
I’m on Lialda (mesalamine) - just a couple of weeks, I haven’t noticed much improvement in my symptoms, maybe 15-25% overall - he was hoping I would see a big improvement in that time, so it may be that I don’t respond to this medication . . . I have an appt today and will post with the results.
[quote]minimaltechno wrote:
abx719, how long have you been on your meds? And are you experiencing any side affects?
They have yet to put me on any until I get its confirmed with a trend of tests. [/quote]
Doc put me on prednisone - one month and check back in two weeks, - the mesalamine didn’t seem to be effective and he is concerned to stop the inflammation - hopefully I can go back to mesalamine after this, he seems to feel that both steroids and biologics can have serious effects - so hopefully i can use the mesalamine long-term (anti-inflammatory)