If you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (IBD), you might also have joint pain—and it may not be a coincidence. This type of joint pain could be linked to your IBD and is called enteropathic arthritis. It is more common than you may think and affects more than half of people with IBD.
Enteropathic arthritis can show up in different ways. The most common kind affects big joints like your knees, wrists, or elbows, and it often flares up when your IBD does. A less common type affects smaller joints (like the ones in your hands) and doesn’t always follow the same pattern as your gut symptoms.
It’s important to know that your joint pain could be part of your IBD, because it can change how your treatment is managed. Some IBD medications – for example, infliximab (i.e. Remicade) or adalimumab (i.e. Humira) – can also help with joint pain. But on the contrary, common arthritis medications, such as NSAIDs (ex. ibuprofen) can make IBD worse, so they would need to be avoided. In some cases, other treatments like methotrexate or azathioprine may be added to help with both joint and gut inflammation. People with both conditions often see a gastroenterologist and rheumatologist who coordinate the choice of treatments.
Besides medication, gentle activities like swimming, yoga, or biking can help keep your joints from feeling stiff and improve movement.
Joyce Ayad is a pharmacist at Charlton Health, who believes in providing patient-focused care, supported by her previous experience working with specialty drugs, the pharmaceutical industry, and more.