Remicade and Joint Pain: What Users Say

• A H...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 25, 2017

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I have been on Remicade since I was 7 years old when I developed Crohn's disease. I am 26 years old this year. For the past 19 years, I have been receiving this medicine, and it has kept me healthy. You do need to find a cycle, be it 4, 6, or 8 weeks, for your infusions. I do every 6 weeks, and it keeps my symptoms minimal. The day of and the day after the infusion, I feel like crap, tired, painful joints, but after that wears off, I feel a lot better than before the infusion."

• Lan...
• February 18, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Just had my 3rd Remicade infusion, can't believe all I'm able to do. Due to some joint damage in my knees and hips, not totally free of pain. Best I've felt in years. Severely reduced prednisone after 3 years, plan to stop. Diagnosed in 2013, but have had symptoms off and on for 25 years. Little to no improvement with Humira, Enbrel, Orencia, Actemra, Plaquenil, Methotrexate made me sick, Xeljanz, Sulfasalazine. Vitamins, no sugar, wheat, or milk helped me also. Joint pain and swelling nearly gone. Praying it lasts, thanking God."

• Ser...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2016

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "My 14-year-old had her first Remicade infusion 10 days ago. After 8 days, she had severe serum sickness. Her fever shot up to 106, and her blood pressure was really low. She spent 24 hours in the PICU. It was very scary. Needless to say, she won't be able to take it again. We are hoping there will be no lasting effects, but only time will tell. Her symptoms of serum sickness were: fever, chills, severe joint pain, hives all over, swollen hands, red eyes, and dry mouth."

• Wel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 17, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was on Enbrel for nearly 9 years before it stopped working, and Humira didn't work at all for me. I started Remicade nearly 4 years ago, my doctor started me out getting an infusion every 8 weeks, and over the first year, he brought it down to every 4 weeks. It's been working great, but after the first 2 years, my knees started bothering me. But after some injections at my orthopedist, they have been under control. Now both my elbows are really bothering me, at first it was when I woke up, but now it's 24/7. I go in for my next infusion next week and will talk to my rheumatologist about the pain. I was curious to see if anyone else has had knee or elbow pain after being on Remicade."

• Anonymous
• September 6, 2016

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I was diagnosed in 2013 with IBS. Then in 2014 IBD. Now, in Feb 2016 with Crohn's. Tried a lot of meds, nothing worked. Went to Remicade, well, it has been working but never lasts that long. By 5-6 weeks, I'm starting to flare. This time, after loading doses, they used me to 7.5, and that worked. I got 6 weeks out of it instead of 4 weeks. But this time it's bad, started to flare in my belly 4 days ago. And now I can barely move, feels like I've been hit by a truck. All my joints hurt so bad. This is awful. Hoping to get an infusion. But I read all the same issues."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2021

For Ulcerative Colitis "It worked the first time pretty well, my moderate to severe ulcerative colitis symptoms went away for the most part. I experienced flu-like symptoms after the infusion for two days. The second time, I experienced fatigue and joint pain for two to three days, and I could hardly move. I went to urgent care. The doctor said to stop taking it. My hair was also falling out by the bundles, as others mentioned. The doctor wants me to try Humira. Biologics have serious side effects, so I’ll take a risk and see what happens this time."

• Sco...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2022

For Crohn's Disease, Active "At 40 years old with a 24-year history of Crohn's and two bowel resections. U of WA GI misdiagnosed a recurrence as confirmed by the surgeon who demanded I go on Remicade. Remicade made me better for a few days, followed by severe crashes afterwards. Each administration followed with shorter highs, then even deeper lows/problems. After the third time, my wife and I said NO MORE. After that, my body returned but never fully healed. Teeth that were rock solid are now losing them year by year. Joint and skin problems. Now at 52 years old, doing much worse health-wise. Stay away from this DNA-made garbage."