I am bipolar with PTSD and a meth addict. I know, not a great combination. I stop and always feel good about it until life throws me a curve ball that as a bipolar I can t handle. So, I start to smoke again in order to not feel the painful emotions. This is my question... Can long term, about 6 years, of on again, off again meth use cause joint pain. I have terrible pain in both of my shoulders and I can barely stand to put any weight on my R knee. If it is a cause of the meth use, when I stop using, will my joints stop hurting, or have I caused permanent damage?