My friend was just didagnosed with Reiter's Reactive Arthritis following a bout of diarrhea. I am not at all familiar with this type of arthritis. Can any one tell me about this disease, symptoms, triggers and prognosis. I have researched it on line, but am looking for personal comments and experiences. Thank you.
You never have to grow up....
"take the second star to the right and straight on 'til morning"
Peter Pan's directions to Neverland
Do a Google search and you will get the info you need. Susie
Straydog,
Thank you for your reply. But as you will note in my post, I have already researched Reiter's online. I am looking for people that might be willing to share their personal experiences with the disease. So if anyone, any additional information above and beyond that on line, I am very interested. Thank you again.
You never have to grow up....
"take the second star to the right and straight on 'til morning"
Peter Pan's directions to Neverland
dear Stella Marie,
hello! i do not believe i have ever wrote to you before; but i've a nursing background along with microbiology and infectious disease. a while back i had a young man with Reiter's Syndrome. his history started with a UTI and urethritis and also conjunctivitis. he got it from a bacteria which was sexually transmitted (it's usually chlamydial or gonnorheal) and he did get a reactive arthritis in the hands and knees.
since you mentioned your friend had it after diarhhae....he or she might have gotten some fecal bacteria that got into the urinary system or some other way.
all infections wether it be bacterial like Lyme's, syphilis, chlamydia, staph or strep if left untreated will develope into an arthritis.
normally, if whatever triggered this Reiter's was contratcted from an outside source the course of treatment is great using tetracycline antibiotics and perhaps a few other antibiotics. the quicker the better so make sure your buddy is seeing a doctor.
things like this are weird! if we have a sore or something and get violent diarrhea WE MAKE OURSELVES SICKER SOMETIMES!!!!
so yea, i love bugs! so i like talking about this type of stuff. the young man i treated did well....but you have to keep track on how you are feeling. be vigile of achy joints and muscles and flu-like feelings. some bloodworks might be repeated a few times.
it's amazing how many organisms LIVE on our skin!!!! stuff that i had no idea!!! when i was in school i was like "yuck! e-coli and chlamydia are natural stuff we carry?" and fungus and all that gross stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
let me know how it goes. wishing the best. i'm curious on how this turns out. please keep me posted on what happens okay? i hope this was of some help...if i think of anymore cases i remember i'll post them. i'm good friends with a microbiologist if you need any specific advise or thoughts.
sincerely,
erin
Thank you ever so much. Your information was extremely helpful. I appreciated that fact that you took the time to reply.
You never have to grow up....
You never have to grow up....
"take the second star to the right and straight on 'til morning"
Peter Pan's directions to Neverland
Stella, welcome to the arthritis forum. Sorry to hear about your friend. It hurts to find out that you now have a chronic illness from something as simple as the trots. My prayers are with your friend. It is great that you are supporting them by finding out all the info you can. Keep up the great friendship.
Oreo
Oreo
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My 9 year old daughter was diagnosed with Post Strep Reactive Arthritis. This was after she was treated with 3 different antibiotics for Strep Throat. She began by complainin of leg pain, which I attributed to strain as she plays soccer. Within two days, the pain was so intense she could not walk. I immediately took her to the ER where she had a WBC of 33,000. She was admitted to a children's hospital where they did hundreds of tests. They were ultimately trying to determine if she had Rheumatic Fever. She was in the hospital for two weeks with arthritis in all major joints. Her kidneys began to fail and her blood pressure dropped to 62/36 with a heart rate of 52. The treated her with several antibiotics and began giving her steriods. Within two hours of her frst steriod treatment, we noticed marked improvement. She was able to go home after 3 days on the steriods and continued steriod treatment at hom. It is now 4 months since her hospitalization and she continues to have arthritis flare ups, but no where near the intensity of the intial onset. Aleve seems to help with the inflamations. She is also on a monthly injection of antibiotic for the next 5-7 years to prevent a recurrance of strep. Children with PSRA have an increased risk of Rheumatic fever with subsequent strep infections.
Not sure if any of this information will help with your friend.
Not sure if any of this information will help with your friend.
I just joined the community today and saw this message. Hope the reply isn't too late to help. I'll warn you now that it will be a lengthy reply because the condition causing the Reiter's presented as many problems as the Reiter's itself ended up causing. I went from being very healthy and active to feeling like a worthless sick glob. I did have Reiter's for years and no doctor figured it out until after the fact. I had urinary problems caused by a grapefruit-sized growth surrounding my left ureter. It was removed and I no longer have the bowl symptoms or abdominal pains I once did, but my urinary infections still reoccur to this day. Because my kidney hadn't drained right for many years, I guess maybe some permanant damage was done and I may always get UTI's. For seven years I had arthritis all over my body but my knees were the joints affected worst of all. During that time I was misdiagnosed with IBS, Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and a host of other syndromes. My labwork showed high inflammation markers, protein in my urine, a potassium imbalance, and other odd results. What I still live with are MVP, heart palpatations, Plantar Fasciitis, hypoglycemia, hypotention, unexplained hair loss, cold hands and feet, mouth ulcers, frequency urgency syndrome, TMJ, and other misc. annoyances. I even had Chronic Urticaria which caused me to be broken out from head to toe for 7 months. I don't know if these conditions are all caused from years of keeping infections or from years of urine not draining properly causing fluid imbalances and poisons to collect in my body or a combo of both. During this past Christmas I had gotten to a point were I climbed upstairs to my Kids' rooms on all fours. During that time I felt like I had another UTI so a doctor did a urinalysis and the culture showed Strep B. After a 10 day dose of Levaquine my joints began to feel normal for the first time in 7 years. It was then that we realized I had probably had septic arthritis (Reiter's) due to poor urinary function, and it took the Levaquine to knock it out. about a month ago I began to feel badly again and another urinalysis was done this time finding staph. I have an appt. in Sept. with a new Urologist to see if she can find some structural cause for the infections. If your friend hasn't found a good doctor yet, I'd recommend a good Rheumatologist. I've seen Cardiologists, Internists, Urologists, Rheumatologists, Dermatologists, Dentist, Allergists, Etc. The Rheumatologist was the most helpful to me. Hope this helps.
Hello Everyone, This is my only my second posting here. I came across this one today and I also was diagnosed with "Post Strep reactive Arthritis" I had just turned 39 Jan 4th/06 when I became sick with Strep throat. I have had strep before I think like maybe twice in my twenties, and recovered just fine. But not this time, I was really sick temp of 104 for 4 days straight I got into the doctors right away and was given keflex to fight off the strep. I was back to work in about 6 days after starting the antibiotic. about 10 days later I started with pain in my legs(kinda like I had run a marathon) which just got worse this went on for about 2 wks and then my legs ballooned. I went to the hospital where they did blood test and gave me shots in the hips for swelling (it did nothing) My blood work came back with Platelet count 678 and sed-rate was 47. They were unsure what was going on with me so I was sent home to follow up with my regular Doctor. I was actually bed-ridden for 9 wks with pain outta this world I couldn't walk, just to go to the bathroom I needed help. At night if I even tried to move my legs across the bed I would scream out in pain it was crazy. My doctor was trying to scramble to figure out what was going on. Waiting lists for specialists here in Ottawa was long. I was seen by hemo-globin specialists/ Rheumatologists. They starting thinking "Lupus" but after tons and tons of test Lupus came back negative(Thank God). And then in May i was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia(Sorry bad spelling)Well come Sept I got strep again not as sick as first time though and then again in Oct finally I was sent to a Infectiuos Disease doc who immediately put me on long-term pennicillin. The strep attacks stopped but the pain and swelling did not. Its now been 18 mnths since this all started and my Infectious doc diagnosed me in July/07 with PSRA a manifestation of Rheumatic Fever. I am presently taking Athrotec, ampitripyline, penicillin and sr morphine. I am very lucky to be starting @ the chronic pain clinic Sept 20 I am counting the days for this appt.Also my ASO titres have been in the 1000's for the past yr once i started pencillin in Dec we have got them done to 550 normal being100-150. This ASO means I am still producing anti-bodies to Strep. Unfortunately my doc doesn;t think the pain and arthrtis will go away but his main concern is Strep can attack the heart so i get echo-cardio grams done every 4 mths or so. I am yet to find anyone that has psra last for this long a time?????
Thank-you Leigh
[does anybody have the same symptoms ?
reactive arthritis
hi
i had the same probleme as u . but my tests came always negative just antibody was find in my blood. i dont have swelling or inflammed joints just pain in all the joints also tmj and fingers pain. first i got pain in knees than hips and than all my body. now the pain r resonable but still problem. also docs said i have osteo but impossible to have osteo in all the joinst . still believe is ReA and nobody could find the reason.
is a mistery pain come and go and migratory pain in all the joints
pls reply glad to meet u
iris
quote="Leighanne"]I just joined the community today and saw this message. Hope the reply isn't too late to help. I'll warn you now that it will be a lengthy reply because the condition causing the Reiter's presented as many problems as the Reiter's itself ended up causing. I went from being very healthy and active to feeling like a worthless sick glob. I did have Reiter's for years and no doctor figured it out until after the fact. I had urinary problems caused by a grapefruit-sized growth surrounding my left ureter. It was removed and I no longer have the bowl symptoms or abdominal pains I once did, but my urinary infections still reoccur to this day. Because my kidney hadn't drained right for many years, I guess maybe some permanant damage was done and I may always get UTI's. For seven years I had arthritis all over my body but my knees were the joints affected worst of all. During that time I was misdiagnosed with IBS, Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and a host of other syndromes. My labwork showed high inflammation markers, protein in my urine, a potassium imbalance, and other odd results. What I still live with are MVP, heart palpatations, Plantar Fasciitis, hypoglycemia, hypotention, unexplained hair loss, cold hands and feet, mouth ulcers, frequency urgency syndrome, TMJ, and other misc. annoyances. I even had Chronic Urticaria which caused me to be broken out from head to toe for 7 months. I don't know if these conditions are all caused from years of keeping infections or from years of urine not draining properly causing fluid imbalances and poisons to collect in my body or a combo of both. During this past Christmas I had gotten to a point were I climbed upstairs to my Kids' rooms on all fours. During that time I felt like I had another UTI so a doctor did a urinalysis and the culture showed Strep B. After a 10 day dose of Levaquine my joints began to feel normal for the first time in 7 years. It was then that we realized I had probably had septic arthritis (Reiter's) due to poor urinary function, and it took the Levaquine to knock it out. about a month ago I began to feel badly again and another urinalysis was done this time finding staph. I have an appt. in Sept. with a new Urologist to see if she can find some structural cause for the infections. If your friend hasn't found a good doctor yet, I'd recommend a good Rheumatologist. I've seen Cardiologists, Internists, Urologists, Rheumatologists, Dermatologists, Dentist, Allergists, Etc. The Rheumatologist was the most helpful to me. Hope this helps.
reactive arthritis
hi
i had the same probleme as u . but my tests came always negative just antibody was find in my blood. i dont have swelling or inflammed joints just pain in all the joints also tmj and fingers pain. first i got pain in knees than hips and than all my body. now the pain r resonable but still problem. also docs said i have osteo but impossible to have osteo in all the joinst . still believe is ReA and nobody could find the reason.
is a mistery pain come and go and migratory pain in all the joints
pls reply glad to meet u
iris
quote="Leighanne"]I just joined the community today and saw this message. Hope the reply isn't too late to help. I'll warn you now that it will be a lengthy reply because the condition causing the Reiter's presented as many problems as the Reiter's itself ended up causing. I went from being very healthy and active to feeling like a worthless sick glob. I did have Reiter's for years and no doctor figured it out until after the fact. I had urinary problems caused by a grapefruit-sized growth surrounding my left ureter. It was removed and I no longer have the bowl symptoms or abdominal pains I once did, but my urinary infections still reoccur to this day. Because my kidney hadn't drained right for many years, I guess maybe some permanant damage was done and I may always get UTI's. For seven years I had arthritis all over my body but my knees were the joints affected worst of all. During that time I was misdiagnosed with IBS, Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and a host of other syndromes. My labwork showed high inflammation markers, protein in my urine, a potassium imbalance, and other odd results. What I still live with are MVP, heart palpatations, Plantar Fasciitis, hypoglycemia, hypotention, unexplained hair loss, cold hands and feet, mouth ulcers, frequency urgency syndrome, TMJ, and other misc. annoyances. I even had Chronic Urticaria which caused me to be broken out from head to toe for 7 months. I don't know if these conditions are all caused from years of keeping infections or from years of urine not draining properly causing fluid imbalances and poisons to collect in my body or a combo of both. During this past Christmas I had gotten to a point were I climbed upstairs to my Kids' rooms on all fours. During that time I felt like I had another UTI so a doctor did a urinalysis and the culture showed Strep B. After a 10 day dose of Levaquine my joints began to feel normal for the first time in 7 years. It was then that we realized I had probably had septic arthritis (Reiter's) due to poor urinary function, and it took the Levaquine to knock it out. about a month ago I began to feel badly again and another urinalysis was done this time finding staph. I have an appt. in Sept. with a new Urologist to see if she can find some structural cause for the infections. If your friend hasn't found a good doctor yet, I'd recommend a good Rheumatologist. I've seen Cardiologists, Internists, Urologists, Rheumatologists, Dermatologists, Dentist, Allergists, Etc. The Rheumatologist was the most helpful to me. Hope this helps.
Nice to meet u Iris:) I know 20% of people who get tested for RA who come back negative can still actually be positive!!!! Its tough being in pain all the time u just keep going and hope the right treatment comes your way. I am going to the chronic pain clinic in 2 days It will be my first time going. I am praying this will be the beginning of me getting better mobility. Good doctors are the key:)
Thanks & take care
Leighski
Leigh Brown
Leigh Brown
Leighski said...
Nice to meet u Iris:) I know 20% of people who get tested for RA who come back negative can still actually be positive!!!! Its tough being in pain all the time u just keep going and hope the right treatment comes your way. I am going to the chronic pain clinic in 2 days It will be my first time going. I am praying this will be the beginning of me getting better mobility. Good doctors are the key:)
Thanks & take care
Leighski
Nice to meet u Iris:) I know 20% of people who get tested for RA who come back negative can still actually be positive!!!! Its tough being in pain all the time u just keep going and hope the right treatment comes your way. I am going to the chronic pain clinic in 2 days It will be my first time going. I am praying this will be the beginning of me getting better mobility. Good doctors are the key:)
Thanks & take care
Leighski
hi
thanks for reply but i ment reactive arthrtis(ReA) not RA rheumatoid arthritis.
if anybody has same symptoms as mine pls send reply. could reactive arthris lasts many years without any positive tests?just pain and tireness.
regards iris
My husband has Reiter's Syndrome/Ankolosing Spondylitis. Although often Reiter's is thought
to occur after a STD, it is not always the case. It has never been determined how my husband's
arthritis came to be, other than after some type of infection. He had foot problems and repeated
eye infections as well as pain and swelling in many joints before he was dx in 1984.He currently is
on Enbrel and methotrexate with very good results. He has lost alot of mobility in his neck
and back as well as vision due to uncontrolled symtoms for many years before Enbrel came out. He also has deformity in his ribs. Today he still lives with some pain, but is much improved and he is able to function well at work and home. Good luck to your friend.
Psoriatic Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, IBS, Psoriasis, hypothyroidism status
Psoriatic Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, IBS, Psoriasis, hypothyroidism status
post total thyroidectomy, depression, Venous insufficiency
Meds: Recently off Humira, Remicade (third try), methotrexate 17.5mg weekly, Celebrex 200mg daily, Darvocet N-100 1-2 tabs
every four hours as needed (presently needed daily), Elavil 100mg, Zoloft 50mg, Aldactone 100mg, Lasix 10mg, Snythroid 150mg,
Bentyl, Advair, albuterol, singular, allegra and Ativan as needed.
Hi Iris, I knew it was Reactive arthritis( which is what i have had for 18 mnths now) that you were looking for info on but I thought u had also made a reference to Ra sorry my mistake. Is there a specific test for REA??? My diagnose with REA came from the strep i had hense the name"Post Strep Reactive Arthritis" which from my symptoms and high Aso for a long time lead the doctors to conclude its REA but i didn't know there is a "Specific test" for REA pls let me know k.
Thanks Leigh
Leigh Brown
Leigh Brown
hi Leigh
sure r many tests for ReA : C reactive proteine, CPR, ASO, HBLA27 that prove inflammation in the body
all my tests came negative, no swelling no inflammation just migratory pain from joint to joints my left side is the worst.i have time when i had elbows pain , than knees , hips, shoulder now i have in my feet sole. MRI didnt show anything is like a mistery this pain.
still believe is ReA but incomon tha this usual ReA with swelling and redness in the joints
for how many years do u suffer. i have right now 2 years, started 2 years ago in Nov.
regards Iris
Leighski said...
Hi Iris, I knew it was Reactive arthritis( which is what i have had for 18 mnths now) that you were looking for info on but I thought u had also made a reference to Ra sorry my mistake. Is there a specific test for REA??? My diagnose with REA came from the strep i had hense the name"Post Strep Reactive Arthritis" which from my symptoms and high Aso for a long time lead the doctors to conclude its REA but i didn't know there is a "Specific test" for REA pls let me know k.
Hi Iris, I knew it was Reactive arthritis( which is what i have had for 18 mnths now) that you were looking for info on but I thought u had also made a reference to Ra sorry my mistake. Is there a specific test for REA??? My diagnose with REA came from the strep i had hense the name"Post Strep Reactive Arthritis" which from my symptoms and high Aso for a long time lead the doctors to conclude its REA but i didn't know there is a "Specific test" for REA pls let me know k.
Thanks Leigh
Hey Iris
My that must be so frustrating. My hubby saids that i am also a medical mystery even though we know its from strep this reactive arthritis. My doc says typically rea tends to not migrate from joint to joint...well mine does and my "left side also" has always been worse than my right side. So we are wondering if i could also be dealing with some sort of auto-immune disease. 2 yrs you have been dealing with this now is that 2 yrs consistently or do you have episodes i ask this because mine is consistent everyday its always there and from what i understand from my doc and researching the internet most rea cases only last 6-8 mnths??? Thats why my doc is questioning to whether or not its auto-immune. Mine has been my legs, ankles & thighs for the past yr and half its just been the past 4-5 mnths that is moved also into my elbows, hands and upper muscles on the arms.
]You are in my prayers for this condition to improve & for you to have a full recovery. Take care and i look forward to talking again
Leigh
Leigh Brown
Leigh Brown
Hi Leigh
I have episodes not permanent pain in joints. on the beginning when startet(my both knees) i had almost every day than little by little became migratory pain from joint to joint.
on summer i was on the beach resort i didnt have any pain . now in fall when started the rainy days and cold i start to have pain in hip and ankles.
docs said could be osteo but i cant be osteo in all the jonts in mine opinion. is clear that something triggered this arthritis : virus or bacteria in the body.
nobody in my family had arthritis so ........do u take some meds now? i took mobic on the beginning than omega3. mag. calcium. now i slowed down just eating healthy food and physiotherapy, swimming biking. i dont pay anymore attention now cos in the past i did so many tests i spent a lot of money with docs on private clinics i was very sick and suffered a lot. nobody could tell me the right dx
u have so nice name like Vivian Leigh form movie "Go with the winds"
im so glad i met u online and we have almost same symptoms.
have a nice weekend
Iris
quote="Leighski"]Hey Iris
My that must be so frustrating. My hubby saids that i am also a medical mystery even though we know its from strep this reactive arthritis. My doc says typically rea tends to not migrate from joint to joint...well mine does and my "left side also" has always been worse than my right side. So we are wondering if i could also be dealing with some sort of auto-immune disease. 2 yrs you have been dealing with this now is that 2 yrs consistently or do you have episodes i ask this because mine is consistent everyday its always there and from what i understand from my doc and researching the internet most rea cases only last 6-8 mnths??? Thats why my doc is questioning to whether or not its auto-immune. Mine has been my legs, ankles & thighs for the past yr and half its just been the past 4-5 mnths that is moved also into my elbows, hands and upper muscles on the arms.
]You are in my prayers for this condition to improve & for you to have a full recovery. Take care and i look forward to talking again
Leigh
I have episodes not permanent pain in joints. on the beginning when startet(my both knees) i had almost every day than little by little became migratory pain from joint to joint.
on summer i was on the beach resort i didnt have any pain . now in fall when started the rainy days and cold i start to have pain in hip and ankles.
docs said could be osteo but i cant be osteo in all the jonts in mine opinion. is clear that something triggered this arthritis : virus or bacteria in the body.
nobody in my family had arthritis so ........do u take some meds now? i took mobic on the beginning than omega3. mag. calcium. now i slowed down just eating healthy food and physiotherapy, swimming biking. i dont pay anymore attention now cos in the past i did so many tests i spent a lot of money with docs on private clinics i was very sick and suffered a lot. nobody could tell me the right dx
u have so nice name like Vivian Leigh form movie "Go with the winds"
im so glad i met u online and we have almost same symptoms.
have a nice weekend
Iris
quote="Leighski"]Hey Iris
My that must be so frustrating. My hubby saids that i am also a medical mystery even though we know its from strep this reactive arthritis. My doc says typically rea tends to not migrate from joint to joint...well mine does and my "left side also" has always been worse than my right side. So we are wondering if i could also be dealing with some sort of auto-immune disease. 2 yrs you have been dealing with this now is that 2 yrs consistently or do you have episodes i ask this because mine is consistent everyday its always there and from what i understand from my doc and researching the internet most rea cases only last 6-8 mnths??? Thats why my doc is questioning to whether or not its auto-immune. Mine has been my legs, ankles & thighs for the past yr and half its just been the past 4-5 mnths that is moved also into my elbows, hands and upper muscles on the arms.
]You are in my prayers for this condition to improve & for you to have a full recovery. Take care and i look forward to talking again
Leigh