Weird things are happening, please help.
 

Hi. Im a healthy 44 yr old female.

No major health issues. Just finished taking flagyll and cipro for infection.

About 3 weeks ago, my left foot started tingling and hasnt stopped.
Some days and nights it's worse than others. Its a vibration, hard to explain.

My joints and have been killing me. Unlike anything ive experienced before. Its so hard to get out of bed now.

For three nights in a row this week, my arms have been falling asleep at night and Ive awoken to being unable to move my arms for a while. It's painful, and I feel the pain throughout the whole day in my arms and elbows.

I have never before recalled ever having my arms asleep at all, let alone it happening every night now.

I saw my GP, they did all the inflammation tests, all came back normal.

I see a neurologist in March.

This is so new and so unlike my body to work against me.

The GP dismisses the medicines I took as a reason why Im having the issues I do.

MS does not run in my family and I probably dont have it, but the pins and needles in my foot havent stopped. And the gp doesnt think its a back issue.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Thank you.

I was also tested for Lyme and B12, All normal.

sorry to hear of your sx's. Good luck seeing a neurologist. Hope you get answers. March is almost here so hang in there. On the positive side, it could be nothing, just a weird thing that could go away. Or it could be MS and you will find plenty of support.

Hi Sunflower, welcome.:)

So sorry fr your symptoms, Glad your are seeing a
Neuro in march. I hope he/she will be able to give
you some answers.

In the meantime, try to stay as calm as you can.
Please let us knows what you Doc says and how you
are doing.

I had/have some similar issues. Have you had your vitamin D checked? Being deficient could cause the joint pain you are experiencing I think. I just recently found out I was very low in D and since I started supplementing I am so happy to say I no longer have my arms falling asleep at night. I also have neuropathy in my legs and feet so I can relate to the tingling and vibrating. It might be helpful for your doc to order an MRI of your back just to check for compression or any kind of back problem. From what I have read that could cause tingling in the foot or leg and it is usually one sided. Either way I'm sure these wonderful people will offer you tons of support! Good luck to you!

I wouldn't write off the Cipro as the cause of your symptoms. In the article below a man describes developing what he called Electric Shock Syndrome(buzzing in his body) after using Cipro.

http://www.theecologist.org/News/new...uk_deaths.html

Lots of people have complained of tingling, joint pain, fatigue, ruptured tendons (which the FDA finally acknowledged) and many other problems after taking Cipro. Just start googling Cipro and you will discover a wealth of information about the toxicity of this drug and the class it belongs to (fluoroquinones).

Cipro can also cause psychological side effects (it appears to have a strong effect on the nervous system). I get extreme depression and labile moods after taking Cipro. I've decided never to take it again.

Hope you feel better soon!

I wouldn't rule Flagyl out either.

http://www.rxlist.com/flagyl-drug.htm

Checking the side effects of the medications is a great idea and could possibly be what is going on with you.

Keep a journal or record of you symptoms. Write down when it started, how long it lasts or if it hasn't stopped, and a description of what it feels like. Be sure to bring this with you to your neurologists when you see her/him in March as this will be helpful.

I am sorry you are experiencing all of this. Let us know how your appointment goes or if we can help in any way.:hug:

welcome to NT,

you've gotten some great advice. i'm glad you're done with the meds. you could also ask your pharmacist for advice.

i hope you see the dr early in march. if you call the office frequently you might be able to get an earlier appt. maybe a cancellation.

Hello sunflower
 

Welcome to Neuro talk. I am sorry you are experiencing these physical things after taking those two medications. Mrs.D is one of the forums leaders and may have more answers about this for you. Sometimes these medications can cause neurological problems. Please keep a journal and document all you are experiencing, so your doctor can see daily whats going on. I hope Mrs.D will repond to you. She has alot of research behind her. ginnie:grouphug:

Wow, thanks so much for the support. Ive been working all day. So much pain and my joints are killing me. I read the articles and I have a feeling this may be the cause. Possibly the Cipro. Im afraid no one will believe me. I will print these pages up and bring them to the neuro. My knees hurt so much. Im afraid I will be brushed off. Im not a very good advocate for myself.

Would the MRI"s show any possible damage regardless of what its from? I appreciate all who responded. Im going to rest now. And tomorrow will write down all that has occurred since taking these meds. Ill def let you know about my appt. God Bless.

I am sorry that you are having all these problems. If you are not a good advocate for yourself, do you have someone that is and if so can you take them with you to your neuro appointment? My ex was not good at communicating with her doctors so I went to most of her appointments to let them know what was happening with her and get her the help she needed.

I have no family history of MS either but here I am being the ground breaker.

Hello all, thanks so much for your support.

Last week, my GP put me in touch with a rheumy.
I told her about the tingling in my left and extreme muscle and joint pain.

She did a zillion tests, no results yet. ANA, hepatitis, really strange mix of tests.

She put me on Nitripoline(sp?), 10mg, for the pain. Doesnt help. But I see the neurologist in March. Im happy she is checking for Autoimmune issues. My GP did the RA test, and it came back negative, don't know the number though.

I still have the awful arm pain, biceps, triceps, forearm pain, and knee cracking pain every day. It's awful when I wake up. It wakes me up. It seems the rheumy was concentrating on the neuropathy and not my muscle pain, which is worse.

I think I might have Raynaud's disorder. Where I work is cold on Sunday am, due to little heat. It was about 58 in there and after a few hours, my right hand fingers were in so much pain. tingling pain. and it hurt to touch metal. They turned whiter than normal. It hurt to use a pen or do anything. I had to put gloves on. I only got relief by coming home and taking a bath.

I know there is something amiss in my body. I can live with the left foot tingles, but not this myalgia pain.

I dont know what I will do should the tests come back negative....

Also, Ive had a lot of bloodwork done, and on every lab sheet, MY EOS is always
high. Last weeks bloodwork was 10, when the limit is 4.

Ive read about allergies and that stuff, but I dont have any, I believe. Should I be concerned about this?

Thanks for reading. I know somehow I will be ok. :-)

Doctor also believes, of course, this isnt related to Cipro.

Sorry to hear that, maybe it might be MS. Let us no the results doh :)

it sounds like you ARE being a good advocate for yourself.
but, could you bring someone with you to the neuro appt? it's helpful for advocacy and also just to have a 2nd set of ears.

I just remembered that I read another article a few months ago about the serious problems with the antibiotics called flouroquinolones (which includes Cipro). I'm not saying this is your problem but your doctor is wrong to suggest the Cipro could never cause a problem. The drug has a black box warning.

So keep an open mind. Then again your symptoms could be MS related or anxiety or a host of other things. But Cipro isn't totally out of the realm of possibility.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...-side-effects/

I was shocked to realize that these antibiotics can also raise one's risk of retinal detachment by 5x! I already knew about tendon ruptures. There have been lawsuits. Note the story of Lloyd Bach in this article and his tingling, joint problems, fatigue etc.

I hope you are feeling better soon Sunflower. Show your doc the article.

One expert said it could take a year to resolve so there is hope if it is indeed the Cipro.

Hi Natalie
 

I didn't know about all those drugs and what could happen either. I did indeed have a host of problems I now think is due to cipro, levaquin, and several others I was on. Had three tendons rupture in my ankle with no apparant cause or injury. They wanted to do tendon transfers which I declined on as I have PN. The doctors do not tell you the risks associated with these medications. I had some serious illness that required the antibiotics and a disease specialist, who put me on the legaquin. What a mess....Docs. should tell folks the risks first. ginnie

Wow Ginnie -- 3 tendon ruptures? Yikes!! I figured out after using Cipro for UTIs that it makes me extreme depressed and my moods are wacky and all over the place (my DH wondered what on earth was going on). So I'm going to try to stay away from it. Yes, docs should let people know these things. The point is that there are other safer antibiotics for people to take than Levaquin and Cipro, particularly if you have a run of the mill UTI. I hope your tendons are okay now.

Hi Natalie
 

I didn't walk well with the tendon problem for years. In fact I was misdiagnosed with anterior tibial tendon disorder. Never did an MRI to really find out what was going on. I had three tendons including the archilles torn. I didn't have any injury or fall. Started on some suppliments with a physiatrist, including B12 shots, and a few others. The ortho didn't want to do the surgery because of the PN in that same ankle and foot. I did heal, but not perfect. Walking is limited but much much better now.
I went on a cruise, and got type A flu, and an ear infection called psuedomonis
on top of the flu. I was sick for three months, flat out on my back. Had to take the levaquin as cipro didn't work and neither did a host of others. Then ankle sugery for ganglion cyst, then thats when the torn tendons were discovered and the PN. They are all connected, I am sure of it. I took so many antibiotics and a drug called relenza for the flu. I think my system got overloaded for sure. Nobody warns you of any dangers. If I had to do it again, I am not sure what I would do, as I was sick enough to take anything at that point. I sure hope others have a choice, and are told of the dangers.
My immune system has never been good.
Hope you are OK Natalie, I am here anytime you want to yak. ginnie:hug::grouphug:

Natalie,

So right about the Levaquin. I took it for 2 weeks after bladder surgery a few years ago. Didn't realize the problem with this antibiotic. About a week after surgery (while on Levaquin) feet,ankles, legs began to swell. The edema was terrible and the PN went out of sight. When I mentioned the swelling problems to surgeon; all he could say was "well you are getting older". Like; in less than two weeks, I got that much older. I still have the edema (take med daily for it) and the PN just keeps getting worse. I only wish I had been aware about Levaquin at the time.

Gerry

Your comments reminded me of the 2 worst things a doctor can say to someone regarding a health problem:

1. You are just getting older
2. It's all in your mind/it's psychological

A lot of this is lazy doctoring. Also, I'm convinced WAY more women get told the cause of their disease is psychological. This is a remnant of gender bias. Anyhow, I've learned to be very assertive with doctors about my needs and what is going on in my body. Sometimes the doctors don't respond well initially because they think their authority is being challenged but they usually come around.

People should remember that each individual knows their own body the best. If only doctors were better listeners. I can't tell you how many times I have had to say "Look, I know my own body very well and X is what is going on." There have been times when I'm flat out right despite what the doctor says!

Wow, three tendon ruptures? My goodness. You poor thing.
I addressed the Rheumy on this and she felt because I didnt have a ruptured tendon, it wasnt related. But Ive felt like crap since I took those meds.
I do hope you are feeling better.

I have things going on that the docs cant see without imaging and its hard to get them to understand that something is up.
I see the neurologist next week. I hope I get some answers.
My foot is still numb. My joints, especially the knees are sore as hell.
Every day. Its taking its toll.

Hi sunflower
 

I can't say that the medications did it, those ruptures, but I think there is a connection. I had NO injury or fall. For about 6 years, my walking was terrible.
I limped and could not walk on sand at all. My former foot doc. didn't dx it right. He didn't do an MRI, which to this day really makes me angry:mad: Two docs wanted to do tendon transfers, three incisions in the ankle. An ortho said No and so did my PCP, as I have PN.
Last year it started to get better. I have no explaination on why. Evidently I did heal without intervention. It just hurt for many years.
Somehow doctors fail us, in adequately informing us of possible dangers. B12 did more for me than all those doctors did. I got on the vitamin bandwagon. I read alot of posts here about that also. After about 1 year on these vitamines is when I started to get better.
I hope you are OK this day. The more information we get, the better we do as patients. Take care. ginnie:grouphug:

b12 deficiency reconsideration
 

Many of your symptoms so sound like a b12 deficiency. Althought you have had your b12 levels checked your body must still be able to reduce b12 to methylcobalamin which involves additional organs, coenzymes, etc. Methylcobalimin is available as an injection and is sold with the idea in mind that is already in the form your body can use.
You could have your b12 levels checked and they could appear normal or high as your body may have an inability to convert it to methylcobalamin. Did you have your methylcobalamin levels checked. Also how about your hair and nails. MS, the demylination of your myelin sheath would not affect the health of your hair and nails(to my knowledge, please correct me if I am wrong) however a b vitamin deficiency would. Both would present in fog brain.