Avoid These Pitfalls for Prevention Avoid These Pitfalls to Prevent Arthritis Sometimes the steps you don’t take are just as important as the ones you do. Don’t ignore joint pain. Pain from UC and arthritis can feel similar, says Amar Naik, MD , a gastroenterologist at Midwest Digestive Health and Nutrition in the Chicago suburbs. This can look like joint pain, swelling, or reduced range of motion. Anytime you feel new or worsening symptoms, be sure to discuss them with your gastroenterologist.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e418e197-675c-4274-b897-7427dd802ce4 Avoid taking NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin can trigger or worsen UC symptoms, though some people can tolerate them. Ask your doctor if NSAIDs are safe for you to take. If not, you can try acetaminophen (Tylenol).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bc64a30c-77a9-4cab-a63d-3ae4b5765bec Don’t smoke. Smoking can cause many health problems, but it’s also linked to inflammation throughout the body, which is one of the main triggers for arthritis.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762954d84a96-70e7-4858-9f58-070357ac81cd Limit fatty foods. Try to avoid saturated fat (found in foods derived from animals, like butter, cheese, and meat) and trans fats (found in certain processed foods ), which research suggests may be linked to chronic inflammation.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b201fc10-802b-4553-bf46-53add2723037 Don’t let your weight creep up. When you have arthritis, extra pounds add stress to weight-bearing joints like the knees, ankles, and hips, Fischer says. Stay as physically active as possible and eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Healthy Habits for Prevention Healthy Habits for Arthritis Prevention Adhere to your UC treatment plan. Treating your UC can lower your chances of developing arthritis or ease arthritis symptoms if you already have joint problems. “If you can get your colitis under very good control and quiet it down, your arthritis will quiet down,” Fischer says.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762929dc3de6-c3c7-49a7-9050-e9ba300fae39 Talk to your gastroenterologist about joint pain. You might think your gastroenterologist doesn’t need to hear about your achy joints, but they should be the first person you speak to about your symptoms , Dr. Naik says. Tell your doctor which joints are affected, whether the pain is moving from one joint to another, and if there’s swelling. You should also specify whether your UC is in remission or if you’re in a flare, Naik says. Your gastroenterologist can help advise you on how to treat the symptoms. “If those things aren’t working, going to a rheumatologist can be very helpful,” he says. Keep moving. Range-of-motion exercises are particularly important for people with arthritis, but any type of regular exercise can help you reduce arthritis symptoms. Yoga and tai chi , which can improve range of motion, may be helpful, Naik says. He recommends wearing proper footwear and avoiding high-impact exercises.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291fea2a98-23d3-47b8-a703-c802e133281ee60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ad8fd46a-2c75-4d32-8d77-36a8a2690981 Work with a physical therapist. Because arthritis can limit your range of motion, a physical therapist can give you a plan to improve your flexibility and strength while reducing any pain. This is an important part of your treatment plan, Fischer says. Maintain a healthy diet. Choosing anti-inflammatory foods may help ease arthritis pain. These include foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fatty fish (salmon and mackerel, for instance); olive oil; fiber- and protein-packed beans; antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables; and green tea.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296f1655a2-7b3a-44f9-8173-cd53f2d5c461 You may also want to cook with turmeric , Naik says. The spice contains a substance called curcumin, which may help reduce inflammation. A review of randomized, controlled trials that studied curcumin as a complementary therapy alongside medication in UC, found that it was effective at achieving clinical remission (eliminating symptoms) and clinical response (reducing symptoms) versus a placebo.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762984d4dc10-32a6-4a86-83de-a844340cedd9e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762959cacd9a-710a-4490-9f82-b8f68b2e18ad The World Health Organization recommends that a 150-lb person ingest less than 200 milligrams (mg) of turmeric per day; the limit for a 200-lb person is 270 mg per day. Be careful with supplements, which can come in high doses and aren’t regulated for safety or efficacy. They can cause adverse effects ranging from nausea to liver damage when consumed in excess.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a6f919d5-b446-4227-ad6c-6670261371ac
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: Managing Joint Pain When You’re Living With Ulcerative ColitisMayo Clinic: Beyond the Gut: Extraintestinal Manifestations of Ulcerative ColitisCrohn’s & Colitis Foundation: Extraintestinal Complications of IBDCrohn’s and Colitis Canada: Joint Inflammation and ArthritisHarvard Health Publishing: Arthritis Associated With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Arthritis and UC What Arthritis Looks Like in Ulcerative Colitis People with UC commonly have the following forms of arthritis, though other types can occur:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296301aefa-9456-4b60-a7a0-7d6249b14f72 Peripheral arthritis affects large joints of the arms and legs such as the knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists. Axial arthritis (aka spondylitis or spondyloarthropathy) causes pain and stiffness in the lower back and the joints that connect the pelvis and lower spine. Ankylosing spondylitis , a more severe type of arthritis that affects the spine, is an uncommon complication that affects 2 to 3 percent of people with IBD. When IBD is treated and gut symptoms improve, arthritis symptoms typically improve as well.
As if gut pain from ulcerative colitis (UC) weren’t enough, about 10 percent of people with the condition will develop arthritis in their joints. In fact, arthritis is the most common complication of UC that occurs beyond the digestive system.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762915780bfb-d61c-465d-95c9-f09048e11161e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291c8e8c99-883e-43d5-852b-3f3a5eb1b288 Although it’s not fully understood, there seems to be a link between the gut and joints, says Harry D. Fischer, MD , a rheumatologist affiliated with National Jewish Health in Denver. For example, a bacterial infection in the digestive tract, such as salmonella or campylobacter, can cause a reactive type of arthritis, he says. In addition, both arthritis and UC have a genetic component.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f66a9aa7-3eb7-43f6-b157-0d3c48a384f8 Research backs Dr. Fischer up. In addition to the genetic theory, another possibility is that gut dysbiosis, or an out-of-balance microbiome (the collection of bacteria in the gut), changes immune function, leading to arthritis.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b9e6892d-86cc-4c5b-b034-5dd76e657c95e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fb209f2e-d625-4f47-ad31-72282816f986
The Takeaway Arthritis is the most common complication outside the gut in ulcerative colitis, with about 10 percent of people developing the condition. There are a number of forms of arthritis, several of which also involve inflammation. Generally speaking, treating UC symptoms will also reduce arthritis symptoms. But there are a variety of tactics you can try to prevent and treat arthritis as well.