Here’s the only article you’ll find comparing joint aches of microscopic colitis to those of PMS.
Having been diagnosed (colonic biopsy) with microscopic (lymphocytic) colitis, and being a woman who knows all too well what the joint aches of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) feel like…I am here to confirm this:
Joint aches of microscopic colitis and those of PMS feel identical in every way, shape and form.
At least for me they do. But I’m sure I’m not unique.
Researchers cannot solidly define the mechanism that causes joint aches that precede the menstrual cycle (“PMS”) nor the joint aches of microscopic colitis (enteropathic arthralgia).
But suspect in both cases are chemical messengers called prostaglandins. NSAIDS such as Naprosyn and Alleve suppress production of prostaglandins. This is why these drugs work so well on the joint aches of PMS.
However, when I had my second flare-up of microscopic colitis, Naprosyn kicked butt with the joint aches.
This tells me that the MC arthralgia was caused by a flood of those nasty prostaglandins (not to mention that the feeling is identical to premenstrual syndrome).
“Aching joints can be a symptom of microscopic colitis, but not necessarily. Many patients with aching joints don’t have microscopic colitis, but aching joints and gut problems often go hand-in-hand.
They’re both associated with inflammation, and many doctors speculate that cyclo-oxygenase (COX 2) or prostaglandins are involved because of the function they provide. Prostaglandins are chemicals that generally cause inflammation of our joints.”
– Dr. Jeffrey Fine, MD, the chief of gastroenterology at the Medical Surgical Clinic of Irving, from an interview for another post of mine, Why Does Microscopic Colitis Cause Joint Pain?
