Reactive Arthritis :: How Many Joints Are Involved ?
Feb 28, 2015
How my joints are left after having reactive arthritis
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Feb 28, 2015
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Arthritis :: Cracking Joints And Knuckles In Fingers
For about 7 or 8 months I have been cracking the joints and knuckles in my fingers. Now when I lower my middle finger on my left hand there is a little pop and the finger moves down a bit. And since i had also been cracking my toes the toes on my right foot make a pop too. I am kinda worried because I am only 13.
View 6 RepliesLow Fat Diet - Treatment Of Reactive Arthritis
I am a woman of 56 and have never been overweight and up to these eleven years ago enjoyed good health.
My first symptoms started eleven years ago whilst on holiday in France. My elbow and knee joints became difficult to move and painful, particularly when carrying shopping. A fortnight later on my return to England the pain had increased, my ankles had started to swell and I felt generally very unwell, not unlike an onset of influenza. My doctor thought it may have been an insect bite and prescribed a course of antibiotics which had no effect. He then tested me for Lyme's Disease and put me on a further two courses of antibiotics, none of which made any difference. The Lyme's Disease test was negative.
By this time, six weeks from the first symptoms I was almost bed-ridden. The joint pains were almost unbearable, I felt itchy all over and isolated little bumps that were extremely painful to touch appeared under my skin, two on my hand and one on my rib bone. After a couple of days they disappeared and I was left with bruises. Some of my knuckle and finger joints were swollen and started to become slightly deformed. I found that I was passing water about every 30 minutes and had pronounced anxieties, insomnia and depression....I had never suffered from depression before. I also started to experience heart flutters and eczema in my ears.
In desperation I began searching (pre-Google days) for clues in some home medical dictionaries. I came across gout and one of the recommendations for managing this affliction was to cut out all rich and fatty food. Although I knew I did not have gout I thought my problem may have been related, particularly with my swollen ankles which by then had turned a rather nasty brown colour. I decided to experiment and immediately cut out cheese, butter, mayonnaise, oils and fatty meats to achieve a very low fat diet.
Within two days I was feeling much better and over the course of the next month I continued with my experiment and found that within about 24 hours of starting on a higher fat diet again my symptoms would begin to return. Over the next four years and after spending a lot of money on private consultations with no diagnosis being given my doctor eventually referred me to the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath. The consultant diagnosed Poly-Reactive Arthritis. I told him about my very low fat diet (under 20 grams a day) which I had been trying. He said if that worked for me I should keep doing it. Subsequently I developed lactose intolerance. Symptoms from this appear two hours after eating any dairy but I have not found any known connection between this and Reactive Arthritis. I also developed problems in my lower back and X-Rays confirmed that this was caused by arthritis. I am unable to lift even fairly light weights and cannot operate a vacuum cleaner without getting severe back pains for a couple of days.
The diagnosis of Reactive Arthritis was six years ago and if I keep to my very low fat diet I am able to lead an almost normal life. However, I now find that in the past year I have had an increasing amount of urological problems such as cystitis and what were though to be bladder infections, although all the urine tests proved negative. I have also been investigated for possible kidney stones but again this has been negative although on one occasion there was blood in the sample. I have found out in the past few days through Google that symptoms like this are often associated with Reactive Arthritis and called Interstitial Cystitis.
Recently I found the web site for the Arthritis Research Campaign which has a very good information booklet on Reactive Arthritis and in an answer to my questions advised me that cutting down on fat can make a difference in most types of arthritis including inflammatory arthritis, particularly saturated fats which can increase pain and inflammation in the body.
They directed me to their information booklet Diet and Arthritis on their web site at www.arc.org.uk. In this publication they recommend concentrating on oils such as olive oil, walnut oil and oil from fatty fish. I thought I would again experiment and only eat the fats they recommended even though I felt sure that too many olives and olive oil dressing would cause a reaction. Twenty four hours after crossing my 20 gram threshold my symptoms reappeared then slowly subsided after I returned to my strict diet.
In all of my research I have not come across any suggestion for treatment of Reactive Arthritis by a low fat diet. I only know that it has worked for me so far.
Sulfasalazine :: Works For Reactive Arthritis ?
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I've been taking Sulfasalazine for a couple of months now, my hair thinning, I've put on weight (about 8 lbs) I feel really down a lot of the time and my moods can swing, I'm normally such a cheery person
Anyone else had/got reactive arthritis and taken Sulf to treat it? i had most pain/swelling in my knee's.
Severe Pain In Joints And Muscles With Fever But No Arthritis ?
My symptoms are severe pain in joints and sometimes muscles that always come with high fever, sore throat and weird cough (small but forced cough) a salmon colored rash and weakness in my joints. The pain is so bad that I scream. I am unable to care for myself. I am so stiff for hours. The pain has progressed throughout the year. I am at a loss. I live in Idaho and my rheumatologist is sending me to Salt Lake City Utah because they have a university hospital with more specialist. I swear to her that I have Stills Disease but she sais I have the symptoms but not necessarily all of the blood results to match.
My cbc always shows an infection, I am always slightly anemic but ferritin is good, not low nor high.
Here is my recent lab work. This is how desperate I am
C-REACTIVE PROTEIN 60
UNITS = ML/MIN/1.73m2
If patient is African-American, multiply result by 1.21.
ALBUMIN 3.5 - 5.0 GM/DL 3.5
AST(SGOT) 15 - 46 U/L 37 45
TOTAL BILIRUBIN 0.2 - 1.3 MG/DL 0.3
CALCIUM 8.4 - 10.6 MG/DL 8.8
PROTEIN TOTAL 6.3 - 8.2 GM/DL 6.1
ALK PHOS 38 - 126 U/L 37 78
ALT(SGPT) 9 - 52 U/L 37 50
ANION GAP 7 - 15 MMOL/L 8
CK 30 - 135 U/L 37 24
I do not like being on the prednisone because of the side effects but I can not handle the non stop pain when I don't have it. Such a little 5 mg dose saves my life. The pain is so bad that all I can do is pray to pass out. I can not take pain pills because they cause severe depression.
Reactive Arthritis :: Swimming And Cycling Best Excercises
Like others here, I've had periodic reactive arthritis since the age of 10. I'm now 33. If you're not into swimming then cycling is in my opinion the best alternative exercise for joints, probably because you're not jarring the joint, or causing undue stress, the same as with swimming. I cycle to work every day, ten mins each way, and it really helps the early morning pain in my knee. The docs say to me 'if it's not causing more pain or swelling then do it.'
My left knee has always been the problem joint and the swelling always impresses even the most experienced orthopaedic specialists. In the past I regularly defied doctors advice and played football once the swelling had subsided enough to make movement comfortable, though the knee is always huge again the next day and has taken a week or so to reduce in size.
I'm now in the middle of another bout of Reactive Arthritis (from food poisoning abroad, which is nearly always the trigger for mine). I was on crutches for 2 weeks, though not hospitalised this time and am not going to risk a set back in recovery so am resisting the urge to play football this season. This arthritis started in April and from experience I'm hoping to see the swelling settle down in the Spring. Takes around a year for me each time. For me the key to getting through is to keep as active as I can with a gradual increase in sports until the swelling reduces completely, while not pushing too hard too soon.
Post Streptococcal Reactive Arthritis - Frequent Attacks
I'm a 35 year old woman and last year I was diagnosed with Post Streptococcal Reactive Arthritis. I also have ME/CFS which was diagnosed when I was 15 years old.
In July I had sore throat that lasted for 3 weeks and wasn't getting any better so I visited my GP. She thought it was a virus but did a swab anyway. Over the next few days I noticed weakness, pain and swelling in my hands and knees, worse on the right side of my body. The pain got so severe I could not stand or use my hands. I went back to the GP and was told my swab tested positive for strep. I was given a course of penicillin and told to take ibuprofen and co-codamol for the pain. I was also given omeprazole to protect my stomach as I had gastritis a few years ago.
The pain continued for 2 weeks, I had another course of antibiotics but it wasn't helping so I was admitted to hospital where I was diagnosed with Post Streptococcal Reactive Arthritis. I was given stronger antibiotics and painkillers and a steroid injection (kenalog) and discharged. I gradually improved over the next few weeks but then in October I got a chest infection and another throat infection. 3 weeks later the Reactive Arthritis flared up again.
I was referred to a rheumatologist who examined me and said there was nothing wrong with my joints. He did lots of blood tests but they all came back negative except for a borderline strep count. I was discharged back to my GP as the rheumatologist couldn't help me because my arthritis was caused by infections. He said I needed investigations to find out why I was getting so many strep infections. I went to see my GP but she said there is nothing they can do. She said there is nothing wrong with my immune system because my blood tests are normal.
I had another throat infection in January and another in March, both of which lead to reactive arthritis flare ups. I am very fed up of being ill and in pain all the time. The doctors don't seem to be taking me seriously at all and the only treatment I've been given is codeine and paracetamol for the pain.
I would very much appreciate any help or advice. Surely the medical profession can do more than just give me painkillers?
Reactive Arthritis Caused Prostatitis And Vice Versa?
I notice lot of people talk about treating arthritis but does anyone here have prostatitis due to reactive arthritis or arthritis caused by prostatitis?
View 1 RepliesDental Health :: Smelly Breath But No Teeth Or Gums Involved
breath smells phlegmy..... dentist said not teeth or gums
View 1 RepliesArthritis :: Mild Arthritis - Skin Feels Sore
After MRI my diagnosis was "Lots of mileage left, another 10 years, at least!" (I am 75)! Good to hear but still have to be careful going DOWN stairs! Not too bad going up! Some pain now and again. BUT I sometimes get a strange feeling on upper left thigh, (the worst knee), as if it is wet but when I touch the skin it is totally dry! Happens after I have been standing for a couple of hours.Also, sometimes the skin feels sore, but there is no evidence to show. Has anyone had similar feelings?.
View 1 RepliesHIV Prevention :: Red Pimples And Joints Pain After Unprotected Sex
I had unprotected sex with girl Unknown her status , then after 85 days i had AB test Cobas roche , and it was Negative , then i had some problems lymph nodes in neck and fatigue and joints pain , then all gone away But now red pimples start on My arms and neck and chest.
View 6 RepliesHypertension :: Losartan - Joints And Muscle Pain
Hi I'm female 60 years old recently put on meds for high BP. I also have Fibromyalgia I mention that because it seems whatever tablets I'm given for BP (,Losartan being the 4th tablet) my joint and muscle pain become some bad I struggle to even do the housework and where I used to walk the dog's for at least an hour I can only manage 15 mins also I could walk round the shops for hour's now can't wait to get my weekly food shop done and get back home . My BP when I take it at home is anything from 116/71 ,to 133/77 on the meds , I have stopped taking Losartan for 2 week's now and BP is 136/76 to 149/74 when I go to the docs the readings are always high 162/84 for example. I really can't cope with the pain when taking these tablet's especially in my knees has anyone else experienced this , is there even a tablet for BP that doesn't make you feel ill .I have stopped these but not told the doc yet as can't face being put on another tablet I am feeling so well at the moment I take my BP daily it's usually 140 something over 82 is that really too high for my age.
View 8 RepliesHepatitis :: I Have A Reactive HBsAg
I am a fresh graduate and I was looking for a job then found one, I was hired and before I could start they wanted to get my medical result first. They told me I won't be able to get the job anymore since my result in HBsAg was reactive. In the medical it says "3516.26 S/CO; The Cut-Off value reported for this assay cannot be correlated to an end-point titer; rechecked and verified." Is my Hep B chronic? And can I still get a job even though I am now a carrier of this disease? I am really depressed now it's like I've wasted 4 years of studying
View 3 RepliesIdiopathic Reactive Hypoglycemia
So to make this as short as possible. About two and a half years ago I had a really bad low blood sugar episode. I'm not a diabetic, I wouldn't say diabetes runs in my family considering only a few have it. I had a really bad diet years ago, few energy drinks a day, cigarettes, and junk food out the ying yang. Now the day it started I hadn't eaten much so it could of happened to anyone. Felt all the symptoms, and thankfully I work at a hospital so when they checked them it was a 47. Ate some food and felt better. That day after all those years of bad food I cold turkey quit all the bad foods and energy drinks. Didn't stop smoking though. I was very active, I mean skateboarding for about 10-12 hours a day. Very thin, about 125 pounds from the age of 15-21. Well since that night it happened I became a very panicked person. I started binge eating because I always felt the symptoms of it, although sometimes I couldn't tell the difference between anxiety and low blood sugar. So I would check my sugars, sometimes they would be fine, other times they would be below 70. When I panic they get worse. Well now I eat the same thing everyday, eggs, spinach, tomatoes, cheese, chicken, protein packs, low calorie gatorades. No sweets what so ever, and I've basically become agoraphobic because of my sugars all the time. I always feel dizzy, weak, shaky, faint. But like I said sometimes I can't tell the difference. These winter months seem to get worse, now lately I can't even tell when they're getting low. Earlier today they were 67 and I couldn't even feel it. I used to though. My anxiety has gotten a lot better but not fixed. I'm afraid it'll drop in my sleep and I won't wake up it's horrifying. No meds ever, no surgeries, nothing prior to this. Always healthy as could be.
View 2 RepliesAngiotensin II Receptor Blockers :: Losartan - Joints Hurt
I am 60 yr old been diagnosed with high blood pressure ,doctor has given me losartan 12.5mg been taking them for 2 month's now, felt dizzy at first so I take them at night instead of morning I feel tired all the time and my joints hurt everyday especially my knees I used to walk my dogs daily , out for at least an hour now after walking for 15 mins I ache so badly don't seem to have much energy these day's is it the tablet's has anyone else felt like this
View 2 RepliesHallux Valgus (Bunions) :: Fusion Of Metatarsophalangeal Joints (MTP)
I am due to have an op on my hallux valgus next week, the mtp joint us going to be fused, I do a lot of walking & am worried I will not be able to keep this up once I've recovered. I walk up to 8-10 miles, anyone any experience of this?
View 41 RepliesBirth Control And C-reactive Protein
So I've been having a lot of digestion issues, and finally went and got some blood-work done. What came back was that I had high levels of C-Reactive Protein....18 to be exact.
Now I know this indicates theres some sort of inflammation in my body, but I was also reading that birth control could increase the levels of CRP. I was just curious if it could really effect it THAT much. Normal levels are 0-4 and mine are 18...that just seems pretty high.
Im 20 years old and am currently taking ortho tri cyclen, and occasionally take vyvanse and ambien.
Vitamin D Deficiency Causes Reactive Hypoglycemia?
Have suffered from RH for 2 years very badly, it has basically taken over my life.
Recently I read somewhere that it can be caused by vitamin D deficiency. Well that would make sense timing wise, I live in Scotland (no sun here) and I stopped sun holidays 3 years ago due to drop in income.
I was excited by this discovery but well 8 days in (5000iu) and no improvement. I know it probably takes a lot longer and I'm still going, but I hope it's not just a red herring.
Diabetes - Type 2 :: HSBAG Reactive
I am facing HBSAG Reactive infected When Blood donated its was detected as HBSAg Reactive, , and even i didn’t face any symptoms till now.
Last month I have taken check-up with Physician doctor suggest test of Heliogram Complete Test, and its result all are normal and fine ...
Reactive Hypoglycemia :: Sugar Always Dropping Low
I've been diagnosed with Reactive Hypoglycemia not diabetes. I've been feeling like been going crazy having weird feelings in my head like i'm about to have a seizure or have convulsions and have bad anxiety and my sugar always dropping low...
View 1 RepliesIrritable Bowel Syndrome :: Joints, Bones, Muscle Weakness
I got diagnosed with ibs earlier this year, at the beginning it was dreadful. Their was no clear signs for me because one day the food that was giving me pains wouldn't the day after so it was all confusing. I tried healthy eating but that just made me worse so now I eat like I normally would but just lesser portions and I feel alright most of the time. Still haven't got used to my bowel movements yet, sometimes I'm really uncomfortable but this happens about twice a week now which I can handle if I take my buscopan regularly. Since I got diagnosed, my muscles and joints have been really weird and I read some information about ibs and the different symptoms and it did say about weakness of joints and muscles. I tore the ligaments in my big toe in both feet 3 times without even doing anything to them. Then I lost my balance in the shower because of my ankle pain and I sprained my wrist and that just feels weak all the time. Then Saturday last week, I was out with mates and my leg just gave way from under me, I was only standing there and it felt like it was cramp in my knee. Got rushed to the hospital and they sent me to the fracture clinic on Thursday, thank god it was just torn ligaments in my knee but the pain was so bad. I was just wondering has anyone else had an increase in muscle/joint/bone weakness since being diagnosed with ibs? I really need to find someone else to relate to with this because I'm only 20 years of age and I don't think my bones and stuff should be this weak.
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