Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition that causes inflammation in your colon. That can create a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, like cramping and irregular or intense bowel movements.<\/p>\n
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy<\/a><\/p>\n But did you know you 34%<\/a> of people living with ulcerative colitis also experience joint pain as a side effect of the disease?<\/p>\n Gastroenterologist Suresh Pola, MD<\/a>, explains the link between joint pain and ulcerative colitis and what you can do to find relief.<\/p>\n Why ulcerative colitis can cause joint pain<\/p>\n Ulcerative colitis<\/a> is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It happens when your immune system<\/a> becomes dysregulated and affects your colon, leading to inflammation. Because your immune system impacts your whole body, it can also cause problems in other areas, like your:<\/p>\n Not everyone living with ulcerative colitis experiences joint pain. But Dr. Pola says those who do tend to feel it in their:<\/p>\n KneesHipsShouldersBackHands and feetAnkles<\/p>\n \u201cThe same immunology and genetics that cause inflammation in your gut can also cause inflammatory arthritis<\/a> in your joints,\u201d he confirms.<\/p>\n How do you know if there\u2019s a connection between your joint pain and ulcerative colitis?<\/p>\n Joint pain<\/a> associated with ulcerative colitis can vary in a few ways.<\/p>\n If your joints hurt whenever you have an ulcerative colitis flare, it should go away once you treat the flare itself. But that\u2019s only if there\u2019s actually a connection between the two, which isn\u2019t always the case.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes, with smaller joints, like the ones in your hands, inflammation and pain may become more persistent and be completely independent of the disease itself,\u201d explains Dr. Pola.<\/p>\n Plus, there are lots of different types of joint pain that people with ulcerative colitis might experience that aren\u2019t associated with the disease, including:<\/p>\n Osteoarthritis<\/a>Bursitis<\/a>Medication side effectsInfectionsSoft-tissue injuries<\/p>\n That\u2019s what makes joint pain tricky to diagnose. It often requires careful evaluation of your symptoms \u2014 when and how they surface \u2014 and additional testing or input from other specialists, like a rheumatologist.<\/p>\n Management and treatment<\/p>\n If you have ulcerative colitis and you\u2019re dealing with joint pain, over-the-counter medications<\/a> like Tylenol\u00ae can provide some relief. That\u2019s true whether you\u2019re in remission or having a flare-up.<\/p>\n But be careful about the medications you take.<\/p>\n \u201cNonsteroidal anti-inflammatories<\/a> (NSAIDs) might trigger an ulcerative colitis flare-up, so I encourage people to avoid taking them,\u201d warns Dr. Pola.<\/p>\n Beyond that, it\u2019s important to work with your care team to make sure you\u2019re doing what you can to prevent flare-ups. As you treat ulcerative colitis, you may find that you have less joint pain.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we treat the colitis and your bowels get better and the joint pain subsides, you may not need anything more than that,\u201d he adds. \u201cSometimes, we use biologics (targeted medications) to treat ulcerative colitis. Or if it\u2019s a really bad flare-up, we can use steroids like prednisone. Those should help both the joint pain and the ulcerative colitis.\u201d<\/p>\n Your healthcare provider can guide you toward other treatments<\/a>, too, especially if your joint pain is unrelated to ulcerative colitis. Those include:<\/p>\n Alternating ice and heat<\/a> therapiesTopical gels, patches and creamsCortisol injectionsPhysical therapyLow-impact exercises<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOur goal is to help you feel better, so we\u2019ll do whatever we can to treat both conditions so your quality of life improves,\u201d advocates Dr. Pola.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition that causes inflammation in your colon. 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