[Crohn's] Crohn's and Back pain

keeptomyself

Hi Guys,
I was diagnosed with Crohn's a few years ago and although it's not active in my intestines at the moment, I've suffered back pain constantly over the years. I've tried Infliximab(Remicade) and Enbrel with no effect, although I heard tales from other patients (Rheumatism sufferers admittedly) that they were "miracle drugs", and I had high hopes. I just seem to be writing cheques to my Rheumatologist and for blood tests without any gains. I have difficulty sleeping and I'm irritable all the time, and basically it really gets me down.
I'm wondering if anyone out there is in the same position?

Just realised I've felt like this for a long time.

DublinEvents

Have you tried switching to a diet high in fiber and completely composed of fresh fruits and vegetables? That could help. Try that diet for a month or so and follow it strictly. Don't eat anything cooked. No coffee, no soft drinks, no bread, nothing. Just raw fruits and vegetables. Then see if it helps.

keeptomyself

Why do you advise that?
I've wondering about my diet and I would like to find out some more information about how my eating habits can make a difference.

The_Conductor

keeptomyself wrote:

Why do you advise that?
I've wondering about my diet and I would like to find out some more information about how my eating habits can make a difference.

Good Crohn's consultants will normally be in positions to refer you to Dieticians who will have specific dietary advice for Crohn's sufferers. Its not really possible to give blanket advice that fits everyone- general advice would most probably be to eat healthily. To what extent this would include a diet high in fibre depends entirely on the individual person and the manner in which their Crohn's manifests itself.

Personally I do not suffer from back pains- but I do have massive joint problems- elbows, wrists, knees and ankles- I'm often in quite a lot of pain limping around the place. Personally I find that avoiding processed foods- particularly those with artificial sweeteners and flavours (Monosodium glutamate for one) helpful- but that said, at times nothing really seems to help.......

Have a word with a proper dietician- he/she should be in a position to guide you in the right direction.

old boy

i am suffering with back trouble since 1997, no one can fix it, it seems that the best they can come up with is a chemical reaction by the ligimants and mucles to atmospheric pressure, altho 1 eminent consultant said i was perfect nothing wrong much to the amusement of my g.p. when things are bad nothing will ease the pain, i even tried drinking a bottle of jimmy no sleep no rest, not happy in bed not happy on a chair i cannot stand or walk with out the aid of a crutch

junkyard

I was diagnosed with psoriatric arthritis about 4 years ago and tbh I'm in pain everyday still. I've suffered from migraine headaches all my life and I feel its all related. I'm on Enbrol injections twice a week,Methatrexate tablets, Migril tablets and the usual Neurofen plus and Solphadine and Solphadol and even with all these life is only just about bearable most days. In fact I'm sick of being sick. Lately I've developed a pain in my back too, it varies from being severe to just mildly annoying. As for fresh fruit and vegetables, any time I eat them they just seem to run through me as if I can digest them so I generally avoid them. Tomatoes in particular are supposed to be bad for your joints if you suffer from arthritis. I'm going into hospital in January for tests to check out my back/stomach problems so at least I'll find out what the problem is for better or worse. You really have to suffer from chronic pain to realise how it can ruin your life.:(

old boy

plus the clusters migraine, just pain, and more pain, tomorrow i have an appointment in a pain management clinic, hoping they can give me relif, between pain and medication some people think im drunk a lot of the time, because my voice gets slurred, driving kills me i dont do much now as i guess ide get arrested under the new laws.

junkyard

@ old boy, there's a doctor in Cork I go to who might be worth contacting, I'll P.M. you his name if you want me to. From what your describing it might be similar to what I have. In fairness, I was so bad at one stage that it would take me about 2 hours to get out of bed in the mornings and about 1/2 an hour to get dressed, I couldn't put pressure on my heel as it was so painful and most of my joints were extremely painful. Now I can at least get around and do my work but I do have to top up on painkillers to stay going. I think the weather, especially the cold wind, has a big bearing on the pain factor too.

tbh

Old boy - hope the appointment went well for you today. Is there any link between the Chrons and the back pain? I know very little about chrons (about as much as I knew about diabetes before I was diagnosed!), so was just wondering if it was one of the side effects.

UrbanFox

I am not a medic and this is not medical advice.

Just because you have Chron's do not make the risky assumption that it is the explanation for back pain.

Back pain may have several quite different explanations and causes which may be either minor or serious. If you are having persisent back pain this is not right and you really should consult a doctor about it.