One more thing... Should someone who had JPouch surgery be restricted from heavy lifting? Could that cause complication with the JPouch?

According to what some of the doctors at the Cleveland Clinic tell their patients, those with a j-pouch should restrict lifting to 25 pounds. Apparently, it can lead to pouch prolapse or rupture. But, I was never told this by any of my doctors.

A decade after my surgery I developed chronic low back pain, which was primarily in the upper buttock region. No injuries or related pouchitis. I also had bouts of tendonitis that seemed out of the blue. Eventually, I was referred to a rheumatologist, who diagnosed enteropathic arthritis. This is a form of spondylitis. I was put on biologics (first Humira, now Simponi) and I have been much better since then.

This form of arthritis has a course independent of the IBD course.

Some people do seem to develop chronic pain from the scar tissue between the pouch and the posterior abdominal wall, so you cannot assume it is the enteropathic arthritis. Just be aware of it as a possibility. Also, pouchitis could lead to the form of arthritis that is more closely associated with IBD activity. Bleeding is not usually associated with pouchitis, so do not assume that it is a primary symptom. Increased frequency is the primary symptom, usually with feelings of malaise or fatigue.

You may want to find out if this is pouchitis, then seek a rheumatology referral if the pain persists.

Jan

Thank you Jan! I have an appointment with his primary care and have also contacted his GI. He just started a job 2 months ago that requires some heavy lifting and would hate to think that this was the cause because he loves the job! But I was also concerned that it was pouchitis. thanks for the feedback!

Good luck! Hopefully, it is just pouchitis and a course of antibiotics will set him right.

I hope his GI responds soon. You may want to contact his CC surgeon regarding the heavy lifting, before he does much more of it. By the way, it was the CC Ohio docs that were telling patients not to lift over 25 pounds, not CC Florida (as far as I know).

Jan

check for leaks as well. I had horrible lower back pain and ended up being a leak at the tip of my jpouch.HAD a horrible spinal infection due to the leak. Had to go back to ileostomy in February. Have consult with surgeon and GI(SHEN)in a few weeks to see what plan is for me.

It's also worth remembering that heavy lifting can be associated with back pain. The pouch may (and often will) have nothing to do with it.

thanks for all the feedback! We have an appt. with his surgeon at the CC for his annual pouchoscopy and an appt. with his primary care physician. Can never be too careful after what we have been through!

Sounds like a plan! Hopefully, just a touch of pouchitis and maybe being a typical teen and not using proper body mechanics!

Jan