toml story

[toml]

Thanks for looking in. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

First flare of arthritis was in 1992 days after back surgery. Lower back, knee, ankle affected.

Diagnosed as Reactive Arthritis by my internist, OHSU doctor and rheumatologist based on:
No rheumatoid factor, Positive HLA-B27, Negative gout test. ESR 120

Treated with indocin, naproxen, antibiotics; no symptoms after 6 months. No other symptoms till recent flare.

******
June 15 -30 2010
This second flare at first affected hip, shoulder, neck and right foot successively.

Seen by Kaiser doctors; prescribed Naproxen. Diagnosis polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Pain increasing; predisone burst prescribed starting at 40mg. Relief for 3 dyas then pain returns to similar levels. Increase dosage to 60mg: rainbow floaters in eyes, insomnia result. Reduce back to 40mg.

July
First visit to rheumatologist prescribes sulfasalazine. New daignosis reactive arthritis. Tapering off prednisone as it has little benefit. I can not tolerate sulfasalazine. Notice that prenisone even at high dosages does not last. Find myself wanting to take it earlier each day. July 27 final day on prednisone.

Use advil and occasional vicodin and acupuncture to manage pain. Off all other drugs. Pain gradually leaving affected areas, neck, right foot and arm.

Aug- Sep

Pain relief progress slowing. Argue for antibiotics which helped me in first flare 10 years ago. Minocycline suggested by rheumatologist. Used for 10 days with some good results but it upset stomach (flu?) and must stop. Pain almost gone in foot arm and neck.

October
Start another minocycline regime. Seems like it continues to reduce pain in original affected areas (neck, foot and arm) but experience current flare in shoulders and groin area.

Pain in shoulders becomes intense, allowing no sleep and relief not found in vicodin, advil. Adductor muscles tighten as well as ham strings.

November
Kaiser internist suggests PMR diagnosis again and return to prednisone or other heavy duty drugs. Will see a naturepath and or a doc who is more flexible in treatment.

[lynnie_sydney]

toml – welcome to the Forum though sorry you have needed to seek us out! Your post was in the Personal History section which is for author’s journal notes and wont receive replies from others. It has now been moved to the General Discussion area where you can expect people to chime in with their thoughts, wisdom and experience. Welcome again! Lynnie

Be well! Lynnie

Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

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