Both knees symptoms and conditions

I'm 54, started taking lisinopril in jan 09. I took for about 3 months and noticed a decrease in libido. My pressure was pretty much in control, so I stopped taking it. I started again around 1st of Aug 09. Approx 3-4 weeks later, I began to experience severe pain in my left shoulder and arm. It began to move into my neck and back. I went in for an EKG to ensure I wasn't having a stroke. It was normal. I experience dizziness and headaches. I wake in the night and my 2 left fingers on the left hand are completely numb. The pain in my neck is now moving to the right side and some shoulder pain seems to be apparent. I noticed pain in other joints as well. I'm unable to work out at the gym as I usually do due to the pain my my left arm. I highly suspect these symptoms to be caused by lisinopril. I've been taking 20mg and was just switched to 20 mgm Hct. a week ago. X-Rays were taken of my neck and shoulder last week. Haven't' heard from the doctor as of yet. I was on Diovan before I lost my job and health benefits. As a vet, the VA put me on the Lisinopril. The Diovan worked fine for me, too expensive for us vets I guess. I am discontinuing the Lisinopril as of today 10/24/09. I feel like I imagine a ninety year old would feel with these aches and all. I havent' admitted it, but I believe I'm feeling mildly depressed as well. Let's see what a week of purging this from my system does. f. D.

I am 61 years old. I started taking Lisinopril 10mg, once a day about 6-7 months ago. Because of cough, I switched to Diovan 80mg, once a day (samples from my physician friend). After running out of Diovan samples, I started taking Lisinopril 5 mg, once a day again about three months ago. For better BP control, I ended up again taking Lisinopril 10 mg, once a day about 5-6 weeks ago. I started to simultaneously suffer from having persistent, extensive and progressively worsening joint and muscle pains in my both sides of neck, both shoulders, both upper arms, left elbow, left lower arm, both wrists, both hands, all fingers, both knees and left calf muscles. I had difficulties walking, moving my arms, shoulders, doing anything with my hands at the peak of the pains about 7-8 days ago. In the night, my fingers were very stiff and uncomfortable that I hardly could make a fist and I had difficulties getting up to go to bath room because of pains. I felt like I were a 90 years old man. Even Cataflam and Advil did not work well to relieve the pain. As a retired physician, I started to suspect it was Lisinopril-induced side effects. I searched on Google and found this web site. Now, I realize that I am not alone. I got my Lisinopril from CVS Pharmacy. I immediately stopped taking Lisinopril about one week ago. All my joint and muscle pains have been dramatically subsiding (although not completely disappeared) without taking any NSAID pain killer. Even "cough problem" became much worse during the same time. I am convinced that Lisinopril I got from CVS caused my serious, extensive, multiple joint and muscle pains. Perhaps, FDA should look into this side effect: whether it is common ACE inhibitor related side effect or it is possible manufacturer, country origin of the product related problem (made in a non-USA country and imported by CVS?). I would never take Lisinopril again. Posted by myh810.

I'm a 54 years old. I've been taking lisinopril hctz 20mg-25mg and is now having severe pain in my joints; it started in my left knee first. I thought I may have twisted or turn it , then both knees started hurting and my legs are weak and my feet burn' it like i'm falling apart. I've only been on the medicine for 6 weeks but convince its the cause of my joints pain. I will no longer take this harmful drug. I pray that the pain and weakness in my joints will go away.Thanks very much for this web sites, I can only imagine the money it save me from MD advice.

I am happy to find this site. I was given Levaquin for UTI. A few weeks prior to getting this prescription I was given a sulfa based drug (generic for Bactrim) and started feeling some pain in right wrist and hand. Dr. prescribed Levaquin since this sulfa based drug didn't clear up infection. Took 2 doses of 250mg and the reactions hit - both hands swelled, joints ached, both knees swelled and both feet and ankles swelled. Went to ER and admitted and spent 3 days in hospital on morphine and started prednisone treatment of 20mg a day with Aleve to also help with pain. This Levaquin is NASTY stuff. I can't believe doctors prescribe this medication. I am still not well. How long does it take to recover? I still am stiff and ache. I too am very active runner and finding myself frustrated in the slow recovery.

I go by the ID Miserable Knees. I posted last spring on medications.com about my adverse reaction to Levaquin. I was given a 10 day prescription for a respiratory infection. 3 days after I finished taking Levaquin, BOTH KNEES were swollen, painful and I could barely walk. I spent a month throwing myself backwards into chairs due to the inflammation in my knees. My knees were on fire, I was in pain every day. After seeing an orthopedic doctor an MRI showed cartilage damage. A year later, I'm living with permanently altered legs. I was an avid walker, loved to hike, would spend hours walking for recreation. Levaquin changed all of that. I had a career requiring me to be on my feet for 12 or more hours a day. Levaquin changed all of that. I decided, if this could happen to me, it could happen to anyone. Now, there is a documentary about the dangers of fluoroquinolne antibiotics. When I was harmed by Levaquin, I was flabbergasted that something like this could happen to me in the prime of my life. I made this 52 minute film for all of the people like me who trusted the system, (government, doctor, medicine) to guarantee my safety. "Certain Adverse Events" is the name of the documentary and it is now available online. You can reach the documentary site by going online to the .com of "Certain Adverse Events"

Miserable Knees Productions

My son (14 years old) was given levaquin for a sinus and ear infection
2 weeks ago. Around the same time he began practices for his high school baseball team. He complained about his legs being stiff and aching. We assumed it was the intense practices causing his muscles to ache. After a week on the drug, he could barely walk and his knees were swollen. We were very concerned and looked up the side effects of levaquin on the internet. We were shocked and angry when we found out that levaquin should not be given to children under the age of 18 because on the possibility of joint and tendon problems. Today we went to the orthopedist and he drained a lot of fluid off of both knees (it looked like about a 1/2 cup from each).The doctor thinks it has to be a side effect of the drug, because the symptoms began at the same time. He doesn't
think after examining the knee and having him perform certain tasks that he has damaged any tendons. He has all the symptoms of rheumatiod arthritis. He is very athletic and plays competitive sports and we are praying that his knees are not permanently damaged by this drug. Parents please research all drugs and there side effects before giving them to your children! Doctor's DO make mistakes!! The pharmacist failed us too.

For the last year and a half I have taken Levothyroxine Sodium 50mg, now increased to 75 mg. I have gained a great deal of weight and developed arthritis in both knees. Some days my knees hurt so bad I can hardly get out of bed. Since my medication was increased to 75mg. I have been itching like crazy. It is not continually, but at times I just go into an itching fit. Please help! Is there any other thyroid medication that works without all the bad side effects?

I have recently taken levaquin for a bladder infection. I am having fairly severe pain with a swollen feeling in both knees with discomfort in the calf of my leg. The pain began at the end of the dosage.

I had a slight cough for a while, but don't any more. I have been on 20mg for a couple years. About 6 months ago, both knees started hurting, but thought I was just getting old. (49). Then everything started aching. If I am moving, then I'm fine, but if I sit for any length of time and try to get up, I hurt all over. I don't know if it is this med, but reading all these posts make me think it could be. I just need to get my weight off and get off of this!
Also, I got to this site because I started having a sharp, fast pain just below my left ribcage. 2 yesterday, but about 10-15 today. Good thing it only lasts about a second, because it is bad. So-could this be from this drug, as well?

February 24,2009
I am a 66 year old woman in good physical condition(that is until I took Levaquin) I took it in December 2008 and it is over two months later and
i am still suffering from extreme jount and muscle pain especially in my left
shoulder and left knee. I took it for twelve days for a sinus infection and
on the eighth day woke up with great swelling lumps on the back of both knees. Initially thought it was just old age and arthritis. Soon all the joints in my body begin to ache and swell causing severe constriction of movement. Could hardly manipulate the stairs in our house. I quit taking the meds as I had never experienced anything like that before and knew it was the Levaquin. I can only hope that the damage is not permanent but am afraid it might be. I can't sleep on my left side for the pain and it never goes away. Left knee is still swollen and sore. Elbow joints are also painful and hands are sore. I know the medical profession will not acknowledge this so I didn't even tell the Dr. This drug is dangerous
and should be taken off the market. L. H., Blanchard, Ok.

Currently on month three of side effects. LIghtheadedness, head pressure and tingling, feeling like I am going to pass out, awful Castro pain, gas, belching, chest pain. Tendinitis in both knees and left wrist with swelling. Weak, tired, sick 80% of the time. I have been scoped, had mid section ultrasound, heart stress test, numerous EKGs, blood workups, all within range except for low potassium. This is poison and it just goes on and on. Most Doctors are skeptical although I have found two that believe this is a result of Levaquin, after seeing a half dozen including my internist, Gastro Doctor, urgent care Doctor, ER Doctors, cardiologist, etc. I would think the insurance companies would want this off the market. My medical bills are out of sight and my deductible which is rather large was met two months ago.

January 26, 2009
I stopped taking 20mg of Lipitor for the following reasons: arm and muscle pain, wrist pain, neck and shoulder pain, knee pain, foot pain, arm weakness when raising my arms, mental fuzziness. I
Withdrawal symptoms : headache, eye ache, increased neck pain.
My goal is to see if the dosage symptoms decrease within two weeks and maybe I will try 10mg of Lipitor and see if that amount produces the same symptoms. My doctor directed me to a Rheumatologist as recent blood work showed inflammation in the arthritis panel. I am waiting to see if being off Lipitor for two weeks might reduce my arthritis symptoms .
I had a stint put in March 2008 and I am on Plavix (75mg), Lisinopril (10mg) and Lipitor (20mg).

I was giving prednisone for only 5 days (not sure about dose, but it tapered to one pill on the last day) for a bronchitis induced severe asthma attack. I have only had asthma twice in my 50 years, both times associated with a bad case of bronchitis. The "doc in the box" reduced his original dosage due to the 3 corisone injections I recently had in my spine. After reading these posts I feel grateful I wasn't on a higher, longer term dose. I have some of the same side effects listed here including uncontrollable appetite, fat gain around the middle, water weight gain, constantly having to urinate, superhuman energy, heart palpitations, and approximately two weeks after finishing, I began to get a mustache (hairs that were previously white became brown over a two week period). I have read on the internet and been told by my pharmacist that this is temporary. I have also read and been told that the 2mg estradiol I take every day since my hysterectomy causes the body to retain and not rid itself of the steroids as it normally would (estrogen is actually listed as drug interaction with prednisone). The doctor in the box apparently just ignored this interaction and prescribed it anyway. However the main reason I am posting is a very strange possible side effect that occurred approximately 1 week after my final dose. I was awakened in the middle of the night with SEVERE pain (felt like bone pain, not muscle) in my right knee that lasted until morning. By mid morning it was gone. The next night I had the same experience but in both knees. It lasted about 5 more days, gradually tapering in intensity, and then just went away. I do have severe arthritis in my lumbar and cervical spine, having had surgeries to repair injuries from a snowmobiling accident. I have normal arthritis elsewhere for a 50 year old, but have NEVER had issues with my knees. Has anyone had this strange symptom? None of my doctors (internist, rheumatologist, physiatrist - who gave me the injections and prescribed physical therapy for my spine) had any explanation. The only explanation I have is the prednisone because I had taken the Z-pac (antibiotic) with no side effects several times in the past. Weird!

Incidentally, I am off the prednisone for about 5 weeks, am still hungry all the time, still fat, still bloated. Unfortunately the extra energy is gone. Best of luck to everyone on this strange drug. My heart sincerely goes out to all of you on long term therapy. God bless.

I was on Fosamax for over 7 years and in October of 2006 I broke my left femur. in March of 2007 I broke my right femur. I now believe that the fosamax is what caused the brakes. Both times my leg just broke each time I just slipped and when I tried to catch myself my let torked a little and the leg broke. I had been having lots of pain in both legs and had been experiencing lots of weakness in the muscle of both legs I was also having pain in both knees and was having trouble walking. I have also had lots of neck and back pain. Have had MRI and could never find any thing wrong. I quit taking fosamax last June and am better but still have lots of weakness in the muscles on my legs. I have no idea how long it take for fosamax to get out of your system Will I ever be the same. I am 65 years old and I know some is just age but I know many women much older that I am that have much less problems that I have.

Please, is the anyone who knows of a way to treat the dibilating muscle/joint pain experienced as a result of taking the antibiotic, levaquin?

Gotta love the internet! I too have the Mirena IUD. It's been 2 to 3 months now and I have EXTREME PAIN IN BOTH KNEES AND RECENT ONSET OF BACK PAIN. I sit with a heating pad on my back every night and can barely walk. I talked to my gyn about the knee pain, and she said there's no correlation. I family md didn't make the connection either. I suspected it might be the iud because it's the only change I've made in my life since the onset of all this incredible pain. I'm making an appt to have it removed. Biggest mistake I've made all year! Thanks for all your input! I'm not crazy after all.

i have had 3 babies pretty much back to back. after having my third in may 2008, i decided to get a mirena iud so i don't end up in the looney bin with 4 kids under the age of 4. about 4 weeks ago i started to have constant knee pain in both knees that i have never had before. it has become sometimes impossible to squat down and get back up. this past week and a half have been overly tired with more knee pain and back pain. i have also had an increase in migraines. i plan on getting it removed VERY soon!!!
G., 28

I was prescribed Leavaquin for pneumonia - 500mgs for 5 days. Have taken it in the past for pneumonia with no observable side effect except the dry mouth. However, this time, I have nausea, diarrhea, excruciating pains in my feet going up to both knees, (despite using lidocaine patches for neuropathy) insomnia, headache, stuffed up nose 3 hours after ingesting it. Additionally, I feel "down", lethargic, lack of clarity in thinking. I am stopping the Levaquin today, the last day. Thanks be to God for this website. I can see that others are suffering the same side effects.

I took Levaquin 3 times for 10 days each time over 2 or 3 years. I am not exactly sure as I'd have to backtrack my records. It was for a stubborn sinus infection. (BTW, it didn't help) Is it possible that now, 2 years after taking it, that my tendons are 'tight' and sore from the drug? I have been complaining that they feel like tight springs for months, totally inflexible. I didn't know about this, so I decided to really stretch them. I did 4 squats and the next day, my R knee was blown up. I got an MRI which showed a torn meniscus from doing the squats. Since then, I've discovered what Levaquin does. Could it be that my tendons were so tight, that they didn't give, but the pressure from them being so tight could have put so much pressure on the meniscus, that it tore?

I have Crohns and had a flare up so I'm back on 40mg of Prednisone. I've been on 40mg now for 3 weeks and I start to tapper off in another 3 weeks. Well every time I start the prednisone again I get new side effects. This time, my gum are bleeding all the time and the pain in my knees are horrible! I still get the regular side effects, ie: Mood swings, joint pain, sleeplessness, sweating, swelling of my legs and hands, wanting to eat everything under the sun, moon face and my hair falls out! I wish the drug manufactures could develop a drug that would not be so hard on our bodies. I have to struggle with the pros and cons with every flare up. Do I want the weight gain, mood swings and hair loss or do I want to look good and be very sick! I'm 37 and was 16 when I found out I had Crohns.

My first injection gave me generalized bodyache, but after the 3rd day it was absolutely wonderful, I am 49 years old, 120 pounds and 5'5, and I felt my legs extremely energized like when my knees were not injured. Then I went to the 2nd injection, when the medication was ejected in the joint, it was extremely painful. I had to have help to excert my self. I was not able to squat down. In the mornings,the posterior side of my muscles, below the knee, felt like it was shrunk down to a third. Every step was excruciating pain, especially when walking down just a few steps. Before the shot,I had pain in the lateral side of the knee. Now the pain is in the internal side of the leg, starting below my knee all the way down to my big toe. If I would have known this pain would have occurred, I would have never taken the second injection. My condition got even worse than before I ever had any injection. I am so devastated I have come to the bridge of crying and feeling crippled. I had the last shoot about two weeks ago and my legs feel very heavy when I take a step. Now I hope and pray for a miracle.

Prescribed Prednisol & Predsol June 2007 for acute ulcerative colitis. Three months, oral and rectal, got it under control.September 07 got large fluid appearances both knees which took two weeks to subside completely.
Soon after & whilst playing golf got stabbing pain left Achilles. Repaired by op. Thereafter commenced getting aches in muscles and joints and generally across entire body structure. Extreme pain in rt hip, imaged and shown as necrosis of femur joint. April 08 rt hip joint replaced. Continual muscular pain overnight which abates with movement during day causes sleep deprivation and consequential lethargy.
Most interested in proven supplements and/or prescription antidote!

I can't believe what I am reading! I have been a competitive runner for over 25 years, and in the past two years I started running mainly trail ultras - races up to 70 miles. This March my husband noticed a huge dent in my left glute muscle that over the course of four races got worse and led to a secondary dent in my hip area. I just assumed I had injured my muscle somehow, but no amount of rest, PT, or stretching has helped.(it's been 6 months now) I developed hip bursitis, medium to severe pain in all my joints, including both knees, my left ankle, and extreme spinal stiffness.

None of the experienced PTs I've been to have seen anything like my dent, and they are baffled by my worsening condition. I'm so scared I'll have to give up running altogether, as my joints are failing me. My PT has advised me to go to my regular doctor to get bloodwork, X-rays, an MRI & all tests done to see if something is wrong with me that is beyond muscle-skeletal. Before all of this, I had low back issues but no joint issues at all.

I found this web site by chance, and suddenly I remembered that several months before noticing the dent, I received 2 steroid injections in my butt, as well as pills & cream for a super severe case of poison oak that covered my whole body and face. Do you think my doctor will tell me if it was Kenalog if I ask?

I, too, am very very interested in any other stories of severe joint pain and inability to run especially after receiving these shots. I hope we can help each other figure this out & get answers.

I am a 49 year old male and took a 14 day course of Cipro for a UTI. By day four the souls of my feet were very sore, especially first thing in the morning but no other side effects. Mentioned sore feet to Dr after 7 days of Cipro but he did not believe it was from Cipro and had me complete the course. After 14 day course of Cipro feet were now so painful that I could barely walk on them especially after resting or getting out of bed. Also burning sensation on skin of feet and hands and some minor tremor. Saw a specialist and he immediately confirmed Cipro as the culprit and advised never to take that drug family again. Have since done the whole web search thing and discovered the whole saga of these drugs. Other symptoms have also appeared, some pain in middle of back, sharp pain in middle of back of both knees, hot and cold flushes, pain in left bicep, fingers that are very susceptible to joint injury and feelings of weakness and anxiety. Has been over three weeks now since I stopped Cipro and condition shows no improvement, may even be slightly worse. About to try a shotgun approach with treatment as there appears little documented evidence of anything conclusive on line. Starting course of anti-inflams (Voltaren) and these have already reduced the pain in my feet. Also magnesium and calcium supplements (theory goes that it may mop up any remaining Cipro and there is plenty of reports from sufferers saying that symptoms continue to appear for some months after stopping Cipro), Vitamin B6 (can apparently help with some types of nerve pain and tingling) and Fish Oil (omega 3's can help reduce inflammation). Not very scientific I know and can't be sure that all these are compatible with each other but am a bit desperate at this stage. Bracing myself for a three to six month recovery (just based on experience of many others). At this stage I am just hoping that damage is not irreversible as this appears to be a real risk. As everyone here will agree it is amazing how this situation is being allowed to continue. I could have stopped my Cipro on day two or three if I had been made fully aware of the risks and what to look out for. I am no expert by any means on this but from what I can gather Cipro and its relatives do nerve damage by the very way they work. It appears that anyone taking these drugs will inflict some nerve damage but for many it will not manifest to a degree that is a problem or at least a noticeable problem. So in some ways we are all sufferers, just to varying degrees. Another point mentioned often is that the symptoms may not appear for some months after the Cipro is stopped and therefore is not always associated with the drug. Also some say there is an accumulative affect with using the drug a second or third time. Symptoms may appear only after multiple use or symptoms may get much worse and more likely irreversible with multiple use. It's all scary reading. At this stage I am just hoping I can make a full recovery. Do damaged nerves repair themselves, does the Cipro eventually leech out of our systems .... I don't know. I will post in this forum again in a few months or sooner if I make a recovery.

I had a viral infection and was put on Levaquin 750 mg. After being on it for 5 days my joints began to hurt. I didn't think the medicine caused it and I continued to take it. Until the 7th day I began to research and found this web site. I quit taking it. I was unable to stoop down and it hurt really bad to walk up or down stairs. Regular walking was some painful. I also had some pain in my wrist. I've been off the medicine for 6 or 7 weeks and I'm still having bad joint pain in my knees. I'm unable to perform normal activities. I'm not saying Levaquin caused it; but it's just that when this started was while on it. If anyone knows how long this might last or if it causes permanent damage, please let me know! I will be going to a specialist in 1 week to get this checked.