Crohn's disease causes body aches, primarily joint pain (arthritis) and stiffness, affecting large joints like knees, ankles, wrists, and hips (peripheral arthritis), as well as the spine (axial arthritis/spondylitis). These aches stem from inflammation and often flare with gut symptoms, but other systemic issues like osteoporosis (thinning bones) and skin/eye inflammation (rashes, uveitis) can also contribute to widespread discomfort, sometimes even preceding GI symptoms.
You may feel achy all over as a result of Crohn's disease. About a third of people with IBD, which includes Crohn's, suffer from some type of joint issue because of inflammation. “Inflammation often affects the large joints of the arms and legs, including the elbows, wrists, knees and ankles,” says Dr. Robbins.
The exact cause of Crohn's disease is not clear. It is probably a combination of genetics, the immune system, and something in the environment that triggers inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Diet and stress may make symptoms worse, but probably don't cause the condition.
Signs of flare-up can include:
Loose poo, or diarrhoea which may contain blood. Urgently needing to poo. Pain in the tummy area. Generally feeling unwell.
Chills and other flu-like symptoms are sometimes what spur a person with IBD to see a doctor in the first place. If a person's gastrointestinal symptoms aren't particularly severe, fever and chills might be the first indication that something is wrong.
joint pain (sometimes described as aching, burning or hot) swelling. stiffness and reduced ability to move joints (range of motion)
The pain often is described as cramping and intermittent, and the belly may be sore when touched. Belly pain may turn to a dull, constant ache as the condition gets worse. Diarrhea. Some people may have diarrhea 10 to 20 times a day.
Intestinal conditions mimicking Crohn's disease
For mild pain, a health professional may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) — but not other common pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve). These medicines are likely to make symptoms worse and can make the disease worse as well. Vitamins and supplements.
See a healthcare professional if you have ongoing changes in your bowel habits or if you have any symptoms of Crohn's disease, such as:
Abnormal immune reaction
One cause of Crohn's disease may be an abnormal reaction of your body's immune system, which happens when your immune system attacks bacteria that tend to live in your intestines. This immune system response causes inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to Crohn's disease.
For patients who have disease anywhere from 8–15 years, I recommend surveillance colonoscopies approximately every 3 years. For 15–25 years of disease, I recommend surveillance colonoscopy every 2 years. For disease duration beyond 25 years, I recommend surveillance colonoscopy annually.
In Crohn's disease, arthritis and joint inflammation are common complications that happen outside the digestive tract. Both of these issues can cause back pain and impact quality of life.
Crohn's is an autoimmune disease
It can affect any part of your digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. It commonly impacts the end of the small intestine and beginning of the large intestine. Inflammation can affect all layers of the intestinal wall and can skip between areas of the gut.
Although ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are both long-term, inflammatory conditions that affect the digestive tract, ulcerative colitis (UC) may be considered “worse” because surgery may be required earlier and, in certain circumstances, more urgently, in people with severe and extensive UC.
Endoscopy. Endoscopy tests are the most accurate way to diagnose Crohn's disease and rule out other health problems. During an endoscopy, doctors use an endoscope—a long, flexible, narrow tube with a light and tiny camera on one end—to view inside the GI tract.
Silent Crohn's occurs when inflammation is present in the intestines, but noticeable symptoms are minimal or even absent. People may feel generally healthy and might not realize their digestive system is under stress.
A flare-up can last from a few days to several months. You may also have symptoms affecting other parts of your body, such as joint pain, sore eyes and skin rashes. Symptoms most commonly start in teenagers and younger adults, but it can happen at any age.
Some people with IBD may have clear signs of disease relapse, also known as a “flare.” Signs of active Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis include: Blood or mucus in the stool. Abdominal pain. More frequent bowel movements.
Routine blood tests for IBD may include: • Complete blood count (CBC) to detect infection and anemia • Inflammation markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) • Liver function tests to screen for liver and bile duct problems, which are occasionally seen in some people with Crohn's ...
If your Crohn's is located in the terminal ileum (end of the small intestine) and colon, which is the most common type and is called ileocolitis, you may feel this pain in the middle or lower right part of your abdomen, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.
Common immunomodulators taken for IBD include azathioprine, 6-MP, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and methotrexate. It can take 3-6 months for immunomodulators to start working. Your doctor may give you another fast-acting medication at the same time (i.e. a steroid or in combination with a biologic)
Erythema nodosum — the most common skin complication of IBD — appears as tender red or purple bumps, usually on the shins. It affects 5 percent to 15 percent of people with Crohn's disease and 2 percent to 10 percent of those with ulcerative colitis. The bumps typically heal without leaving scars.