I am considering surgery for my ulcerative colitis. I have joint pain and arthritis that is associated with my UC. For all those that were in the same situation, has surgery had any effect on your joint pain or arthritis? I have heard conflicting information.

Mine got worse, but I have spondylitis which progresses independently of the bowel inflammation. But in a general sense, arthritis tends to improve with colectomy. This is particularly true for peripheral joint arthritis, which tends to follow the inflammation of the bowel, and not true for axial (spinal) arthritis.

Jan

Unfortunately mine got worse too. I have arthritis in my lower back and a disk problem that makes it worse. I have just started seeing a rheumatologist, and so far we have ruled out RA.

janna

Mine stayed about the same so I got on medication which has helped my arthritis quite a bit.
My arthritis does get worse when my pouch is acting up even still.

No it didn't get worse, but I went off the huge doses of anti-inflammatory, and steroids, which made for a rough couple of weeks. I am on arthritis drugs now, so that helps allot.

Thanks everyone. I am worried that the surgery wouldn’t reduce my arthritis or joint pain and it makes it more difficult for me to decide on having surgery or not. I see a surgeon for the first time this Thursday.