K.N.O.W. Home Health - ENTEROPATHIC ARTHRITIS

What is Enteropathic Arthritis?

Enteropathic arthritis is a type of joint pain and swelling that happens in people who have problems with their stomach or intestines. These problems are usually diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, which are types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The word “enteropathic” means “related to the intestines,” and “arthritis” means joint inflammation. So this is arthritis that is connected to problems in your gut.

Causes

Doctors don’t know the exact cause, but it is believed that problems with the immune system, genes, and gut inflammation may lead to this type of arthritis. Your body may attack your joints by mistake because it is already fighting inflammation in your digestive system.

Symptoms

Pain and swelling in large joints like knees, ankles, hips, or lower back
Morning stiffness in joints
Diarrhea or stomach pain (from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
Fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
Redness or swelling in the eyes (sometimes)

Treatment

There is no cure, but treatment can help you feel better. Treatments may include:

Medicines to reduce swelling and pain
Drugs to treat IBD, which can also help the joints
Physical therapy to keep joints flexible
Healthy eating and staying active
Resting when you need it

Some patients may need stronger medications if the arthritis gets worse or doesn’t get better with usual treatments.

Reducing Symptoms at Home

Take your medicine the way your doctor tells you
Use warm packs or cold packs to help with pain
Try light stretching or gentle exercise
Avoid foods that upset your stomach
Get enough sleep and drink water
Keep a journal of your pain and bowel symptoms to share with your nurse or doctor

When to Call Your Home Health Nurse or Doctor

Call your home health nurse or doctor if you:

Have more joint pain or swelling than usual
Have diarrhea that won’t stop
Are too tired to do daily tasks
Notice new pain in other parts of your body
Feel like your medicines are not working

When to Go to the Emergency Room (ER)

Go to the ER if you:

Have very bad belly pain
Can’t stop vomiting or having diarrhea
Can’t walk because of joint pain
Have a high fever and chills
Feel dizzy, confused, or very weak

PATIENT HOMEWORK/ASSESSMENT

Choose True or False for each statement below: PLEASE CORRECT EACH FALSE STATEMENT

True or False: Enteropathic arthritis is a kind of joint disease caused by stomach or intestinal problems.
True or False: Enteropathic arthritis has nothing to do with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
True or False: Swollen joints and stomach pain may happen at the same time.
True or False: The immune system may mistakenly attack the joints.
True or False: Enteropathic arthritis is a type of cancer.
True or False: Joint stiffness in the morning is a common symptom.
True or False: The disease can affect your knees, hips, and back.
True or False: Rest and healthy food can help reduce symptoms.
True or False: Taking medicine the wrong way will still help.
True or False: Physical therapy can help keep your joints moving.
True or False: You should always ignore new or worse pain.
True or False: Writing down your symptoms can help your nurse or doctor.
True or False: This disease can be cured completely with medicine.
True or False: You should call your doctor if your joints are more swollen.
True or False: If you can't stop vomiting or having diarrhea, go to the ER.
True or False: If you feel dizzy or confused, it may be an emergency.
True or False: You should avoid any activity and never move your joints.
True or False: Drinking water and getting sleep is helpful.
True or False: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are both types of inflammatory bowel disease.
True or False: You can help manage symptoms at home with heat packs and gentle exercise.

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Have you noticed if your joint pain or stiffness worsens during flare-ups of your Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis?

Which joints are most affected, and how does this impact your ability to perform daily activities such as walking, cooking, or bathing?

Have you recently experienced swelling, redness, or warmth in your joints along with your digestive symptoms?

What treatments or medications are you currently taking for your bowel condition, and do they seem to help—or worsen—your joint symptoms?

ANSWER KEY

True – Enteropathic arthritis is linked to problems in the intestines, like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
False – It is directly related to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both are common causes.
True – Joint and stomach symptoms can happen together because both are part of the disease process.
True – The immune system may mistakenly attack healthy joints when dealing with intestinal inflammation.
False – It is not cancer; it is a type of inflammatory arthritis.
True – Morning stiffness is a common sign of arthritis, including enteropathic arthritis.
True – This condition often affects large joints like the knees, hips, ankles, and spine.
True – Healthy habits like proper rest and nutrition help manage inflammation and symptoms.
False – Not taking your medicine properly can make your symptoms worse and delay improvement.
True – Physical therapy can help maintain joint movement and reduce stiffness.
False – Worsening pain or new symptoms should always be reported to your nurse or doctor.
True – A symptom journal helps healthcare providers understand your condition better.
False – There is no cure for enteropathic arthritis, but it can be managed with treatment.
True – Swelling or increased pain are signs you should call your doctor or home health nurse.
True – These are emergency symptoms and may mean a serious problem is happening.
True – Dizziness and confusion can be signs of a medical emergency and need immediate attention.
False – Gentle activity and movement are important to keep joints flexible and strong.
True – Staying hydrated and rested supports healing and reduces fatigue.
True – Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
True – Heat packs and light exercise are helpful home remedies to manage joint pain.