Reactive arthritis

Charles Gomez2 said:mellowskipper3, if you don't mind me asking, what condition were you managing while you were on methotrexate for all those years?

I’ve been living with RA for about ten years now, but I still find myself lurking in this thread, hoping against hope that I'll one day feel better too. 😁 I try to keep up with all the advice and suggestions here, just searching for that one thing I haven't tried yet that might actually make a difference.

Charles Gomez2 said:Please, do let us know! I'm asking anyone who has seen even the slightest progress—even if it seems trivial—to please share, because honestly, I don't have anyone else to talk to about this... nobody understands because I look perfectly fine on the outside.
I actually had Chlamydia a few years ago, which was the starting point for all of this, and when the Escherichia showed up, things just seemed to escalate. I've been with the same partner consistently and we always use protection, so I'm not entirely sure how I contracted it... everyone carries these things, they just manifest differently for different people, so I suppose it's just one of those things fate throws at you...🙂
I'll say it again, I was messaging a woman on another forum whose husband went through a terrible time with massive swelling, but he eventually recovered completely. She said the treatment lasted over six months, but now they barely even remember that awful period, which gives me hope, even if I'm not thrilled about swallowing those three large orange pills twice a day without even knowing exactly what they are...😢

Is your partner undergoing treatment? It is absolutely vital that she gets a cervical swab just to be safe; otherwise, you might think you're cured, only to find yourselves playing a constant game of "pass the bacteria" after every intimate encounter. Furthermore, I would strongly suggest repeating the lab tests at least twice, as a negative result can often be a false positive. On another note, have you considered seeking a second opinion from a different rheumatologist? Perhaps a different specialist could prescribe a medication that actually aligns with your specific needs. From what I understand, reactive issues typically flare up for about six months before receding... In more severe cases, they may resurface every few months or years, but even that is manageable with the right approach.🙂

Well, I thought I should weigh in here. I just finished up a whole new battery of tests ordered by my rheumatologist—everything from immunoglobulins and iron levels to various swabs, hormones, and thyroid antibodies. My TSH came back at 4.98, which is slightly elevated. They sent me off to nuclear medicine for an ultrasound, but everything there looked perfectly normal; my antibodies and other thyroid hormones are within the standard range too. The doctor is convinced that my pain isn't being triggered by any thyroid issues. However, the results from my swabs just came in, and they were positive for Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. Has anyone else here dealt with this specific combination before?

Well, here I am again, fresh from my appointment with the rheumatologist. It looks like I’m headed back into the lab for a round of testing—throat swabs, nasal swabs, and yet another cervical swab to check for Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, and Mycoplasma... plus urine samples and all that fun. My doctor is leaning heavily toward a diagnosis of reactive arthritis. As it turns out, I tested positive for Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma at a 10 out of 5 level, though the Chlamydia came back negative. The physician suggests that this whole reactive situation was likely triggered by those two specific bacteria, which in turn caused a flare-up of my Escherichia levels. I actually thought I had finally put the Escherichia behind me after finishing a full course of Doxycycline, so now I have to wait for the follow-up results to confirm. The doctor maintains that a full recovery is entirely possible, provided I remain patient through the process. During the visit, I had to perform several physical maneuvers to gauge my pain levels and range of motion; however, I found it quite easy to perform deep squats, and none of the specific movements she requested—like walking on my toes or heels, or various knee and back exercises—caused me any discomfort whatsoever. My labs look mostly solid: my immunoglobulins are normal and everything else seems perfect, aside from a slightly elevated TSH. Despite all this medical chatter, I am still hitting the gym regularly; I haven't felt the need to scale back my intensity at all, and my doctor even reassured me that I can continue my training regimen. Honestly, I think I’m just getting worked up and frustrated with myself more than anything else. I have to go back for a follow-up in six weeks.

FYI, back at the start of 2015, I restarted therapy with Ninur (nitrofurantoin) capsules 50mg for 7 days (4 x 2 capsules)—that’s two full boxes (30 capsules per box). Now I need to get another urethral swab... but I already know the result. 👎

Enterococcus faecalis definitely wasn't wiped out, even after a heavy course of Ninur (though it is sensitive to it). What now? Does anyone know an excellent infectious disease specialist comparable to Fran Mihaljević? I have to take action before this turns completely chronic and leads to other issues...

THANKS!

wiredotter12 said:Update:
A urethral swab from October 14, 2014, showed Enterococcus faecalis is still present, though the Klebsiella pneumonia was cleared by two boxes of Ciprofloxacin 500mg. Apparently, Enterococcus faecalis is linked to septic arthritis (http://www.thearthritiscenter.com/co...se-information).

My internist/pharmacist wants me to take Ninur (nitrofurantoin) 50mg capsules for the next 7 days (4 x 2 capsules)—that is two full boxes of 30. It feels like an aggressive "all or nothing" dose. I have to take the Ninur with food or milk to help prevent nausea. I am also taking Linex 2 x daily.

I forgot to mention to the doctor that I have these small pockets or swellings on my knees, ankles, left elbow, and potentially my hand joints. I can't tell if it's fluid buildup or synovial fluid. How do you detect what that actually is, and how do you get rid of it?

Enterococcus faecalis definitely didn't die off even after four rounds of Ninur therapy (even though it’s sensitive to Ninur). Now what??? Does anyone know a killer infectious disease specialist near Mayo Clinic??? I gotta do something before this turns totally chronic and who knows what else...

wiredotter12, man, I am so sorry that bacteria is sticking to you like glue.

My own experiences ("unfortunately" 😁) with the Mayo Clinic have been awesome. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong going to them.

Anyway, I'm super interested in your case because I started getting similar symptoms about 6 weeks ago. I wanna jump on this ASAP so it doesn't get as bad as yours.

It all kicked off with pain and burning in my right wrist. I figured it was just bad ergonomics from working at my computer too much, so I tried to take it easy.
After a week, the exact same thing started happening in my left wrist.
Two weeks in, I hit up my GP. Their advice? Just fix your desk setup at work.
After 10 days of being super careful and trying to use only my left hand, I went back to the doctor since my right wrist wasn't getting any better. In fact, the left one just got worse.

Got X-rays of my wrists, a CBC, CRP, and ESR. Everything came back fine. That was a week ago.

Then the burning during urination started, along with aching in my elbows and knees.
Got prescribed Voltaren 3 x1 daily and a diagnosis that it’s most likely reactive arthritis.
They sent me to get a urinalysis. Currently waiting on the results.

By the way, two years ago I tested positive for chlamydia in a urethral swab, but that was successfully cleared up.

Grace Campbell56 said:Enterococcus faecalis definitely didn't die off even after four rounds of Ninur therapy (even though it’s sensitive to Ninur). Now what??? Does anyone know a killer infectious disease specialist near Mayo Clinic??? I gotta do something before this turns totally chronic and who knows what else...

wiredotter12, man, I am so sorry that bacteria is sticking to you like glue.

My own experiences ("unfortunately" 😁) with the Mayo Clinic have been awesome. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong going to them.

Anyway, I'm super interested in your case because I started getting similar symptoms about 6 weeks ago. I wanna jump on this ASAP so it doesn't get as bad as yours.

It all kicked off with pain and burning in my right wrist. I figured it was just bad ergonomics from working at my computer too much, so I tried to take it easy.
After a week, the exact same thing started happening in my left wrist.
Two weeks in, I hit up my GP. Their advice? Just fix your desk setup at work.
After 10 days of being super careful and trying to use only my left hand, I went back to the doctor since my right wrist wasn't getting any better. In fact, the left one just got worse.

Got X-rays of my wrists, a CBC, CRP, and ESR. Everything came back fine. That was a week ago.

Then the burning during urination started, along with aching in my elbows and knees.
Got prescribed Voltaren 3 x1 daily and a diagnosis that it’s most likely reactive arthritis.
They sent me to get a urinalysis. Currently waiting on the results.

By the way, two years ago I tested positive for chlamydia in a urethral swab, but that was successfully cleared up.

Hi. I went to the Mayo Clinic and according to them, the cause is somewhere in or around the prostate, because you wouldn't have recurring bacteria in a urethral swab after multiple rounds of therapy...

They gave me this treatment:
Augmentin BID 2X1 g for 14 days
Sumamed 1 x 500mg, 3 days a week for 3 weeks
+ abdominal, urinary tract, and prostate ultrasound
...followed by numerous prostate fluid cultures.

I don't know what to say... it seems strange to be handed such heavy-duty therapy like Augmentin + Sumamed—which don't kill Enterococcus faecalis—without prior exams or tests, but I suppose they know what they're doing. They certainly have the experience.

I regret not going to the Mayo Clinic sooner, but it is what it is. I suggest you do the same.