I started Sulfasalazine last May and had a similar incident.  It took about 3 months for inflammation to subside and at about 6 months pain is now minimal and easily managed and not life consuming.  I am now getting back into regular exercise with minimal issue.

Thanks Annikki, I'm meeting with the rheumy this Wed. will probably start on the Sulfasalazine. I have a few more questions;

1. What type of arthritis do you have and how bad is it? 

2. Did the Sulfasalazine affect your pouch BM in any way?

3. Did you get any noticeable side effects from taking Sulfasalazine?

thanks so much

-d

Enteropathic. It was pretty bad.  My knee swelled to the point I couldn't walk.  I used a cane for quite a while.  Pain 24/7.

No impact on my pouch.  It's often used to also treat UC.

I had to slowly increase the dose as there is side effects.  For me it nausea, headache.  Both have subsided pretty quickly.  It would last a couple days and go away, then I would increase the meds every 4-6 days until I hit therapeutic dose. It's important to take them at the same time everyday spaced 12 hours apart. I only get occasional very mild nausea. 

After my knee I started to get flares in my elbows, wrist, ankles, toes and fingers.  Much better now.  I get flares but the pain is manageable and it's not all days long.