Tendinitis symptoms and conditions

I posted my experiences on June 5, 2009. I thought I would do an update. Yes, I am overjoyed that I had Mirena removed. It took 3-6 months for the side effects from the drug to disappear after removal. In the first 1-3 months following removal I haven't experienced another rash, itchy skin, hair loss, anxiety, heart flutter, bloating, cramping, breast tenderness,or eye twitch. It took about 3-6 months for the mild to cystic acne and low back pain to finally vanish. I still have problems with tendinitis in my wrist. The depression and feeling of laziness is also a side effect of the medication that can disappear if the device is removed. I paid for all the expenses out out pocket with no insurance, but I'm glad I didn't wait to have the Mirena removed because of the expense.

I used to take Diovan, but I wanted a more economical alternative, so Dr. gave me Lisinopril. I am now experiencing itchy skin, especially on the back of my legs, cloudy urine, and experienced tendinitis on my shoulders. The tendinitis is especially aggravated at night time.

I was “poisoned” by Levaquin -- resulting in acute tendinitis in both Achilles tendons.

Background:
I am a healthy, athletic male in his mid-50s who has never had an Achilles tendon problem. In early July 2008, my doctor (general practitioner) prescribed Levaquin for an infection. I took the medication for 14 days, as prescribed.
Sudden onset of acute tendinitis in my Achilles tendons occurred near the end of the medication period. The tendinitis occurred in both Achilles tendons simultaneously. Nothing related to my lifestyle would have caused the tendinitis.

Symptoms:
Symptoms included the following at one time or another:
1. aching
2. sharp pain
3. feeling of heat/burning
4. tightness
5. pins and needles in small areas (micro tears?)
6. weakness at rear/base of each heal.
7. When I woke-up each morning my tendons and the back of my heal pads felt sore, weak and tight.
At the height of the problems, I had extreme difficultly walking and negotiating stairs, and I thought there was a risk that my tendons would detach from my heal bone.

Doctors’ Advice:

My general practitioner’s and my podiatrist’s advice was to: (a) not run, cycle, hike or otherwise exercise my legs in any manner other than easy walking and swimming, (b) gently stretch, (c) take ibuprofen, (d) ice regularly, and (e) use heal lift shoe inserts made by my podiatrist. Their advice was based on the view that the damage that was done is more like damage cause by an injury than damage caused by an insidious drug. My readings on the subject indicate that little is known about the mechanisms behind this fluoroquinolone-specific toxicity. It is believed that the tendon’s collagen fibers become disorganized and infiltrated with small blood vessels -- resulting in weakness. And there are no specific treatment plans for this problem.

After 2 months of living with these symptoms, I decided to change course.

My Approach to Healing:

Because I never believed my pain was the result of inflammation, I stopped icing and taking ibuprofen. Because stretching seemed to further weaken the tendon and set me back, I stopped stretching. Because I believe that the body heals itself best when used, I started cycling at an easy pace. I then worked-my-way-up to cycling more aggressively, and to walking in the neighborhood. That’s where I am today. Two days ago I had my first day without discomfort in 3 months. Yet, I have a long way to go. I am not yet hiking or running. It’s a slow healing process with occasional setbacks when I push my tendons a bit harder than I should, Given the progress I have made, I am hopeful for a full or nearly-full recovery in another few months.

Other things I have done in the past month:

1. Taken L-Lysine (1000mg daily), which is believed to aid collagen formation.

2. Taken Magnesium (250mg daily), which some believe may help leech the fluoroquinolone molecules from the tissues because of the affinity of these antibiotics for minerals.

3. Taken Fish oil pills (3000mg daily), which improves circulation

4. Used a heating pad, which improves circulation

5. Started regular Acupuncture (first time for me), which improves circulation

What you can do:

1, Be easy on your tendons until you get a handle on the problem. Don’t over-use tendons when they are in a weakened state.

2. “Listen” to your body and take steps you think best to help the healing process.

3. Tell your friends to beware of potential side effects from fluoroquinolones.

4. File a MedWatch report with the FDA at fda.gov.

5. Share your findings/advice on this forum.

Good Luck

I was prescribed Levaquin 750mg for a cough and cold. Day 6, the day after my last pill, my shoulders started to hurt. I took Motrin which did not help at all. 17 days after taking the drug I was still having shoulder pain and the doctor prescribed a pain killer for Tendinitis.
Last week I read about the black box warning from the FDA and then realized that the Levaquin was the source of my Tendinitis. I am now on my third pain killer, Ibuprofen 800mg. After six days I still have the shoulder pain and will have to be making a fourth visit to the doctors.

My husband has COPD and was prescribed Levaquin along with prednisone for bronchitis. He developed acute tendinitis in both achilles tendons and then the right achiiles totally ruptured about 6 weeks later. It has been a nightmare for him.

It is so important that everyone who has suffered an adverse affect report it to the FDA. Unless they receive these reports, they do not know how serious this problem really is and most doctors are totally oblivious.

I am diagnosed with COPD. On March14, 2008, I visited my pulmonologist due to having a bacterial infection in the lungs and nose. I was given a script for Levaguin 750 mg for 7 days. After my first dose, my feet felt like they were on fire. I spoke with the pharmacist and he said it could be a side effect. I finished the meds with a lot of trepidation, feeling uneasy and anxious. However my large toes began to have a tingling sensation, which I reported to my PCP and he said to keep a check on it. I just came from my PCP today, July 8,2008 and now, in addition to my lung problem, I have peripheral neurophathy, involving all my toes and also my hands. This medicine is dangerous, as looking back at the time after I took this medicine, I was seriously considering ending it all! I will never take any medication in the future until I research it thoroughly. I trust my PCP and I trusted my pulmonologist, but I feel the pulmonologist should have informed me of the possible bad sich effects. Be careful out there!!!

We are looking for people who can participate in a documentary film to be shot in Los Angeles which focuses on the apparent adverse effects of Levaquin. Specifically, we are looking for people who have experienced cartilage damage or burst and ruptured tendons as a result of using Levaquin. It is especially useful if you have a doctor's opinion that the damage was caused by Levaquin. If you or someone you know would be interested in taking part in this film which will shoot in Los Angeles in mid-June 2008 please email us at ******

Are you guys for real? In reading through the side effects blogs it really reads like it is all the same person writing, maybe someone trying to beat up on the competition or something. It did scare me out of letting my 24 year old son take it for severe sinus infections, however and I just hope that two days of a 750mg dose per day doesn't show forth the negative effects in the days to come!! Please tell me it's not as bad as it sounds!

I posted my experience with LIPITOR on the first of January. I am happy to say, all of the muscle pain I was experiencing in both legs (knees, calfs, feet) has stopped completely. The tendinitis in both of my arms has improved, but hasn't stopped completely. I am already feeling 80% better, & am encouraged to the point that I believe all of my negative symptoms will disappear soon. I haven't informed my doctor yet, (that I stopped taking LIPITOR cold turkey), because I am trying to exercise daily, doing at least 45 minutes on our treadmill, (something I couldn't do with the constant leg pain & exhaustion), eating healthier. (I should lose at least 20 pounds) & I've added Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 tablespoon 3 times a day, to my daily routine. I heard that this has helped others to lower their total Cholesterol number. I will do this for a few months, then have blood work done. No matter what, I will NEVER go back on Statins. Good Luck Everyone :)

I posted my experience with LIPITOR on the first of January. I am happy to say, all of the muscle pain I was experiencing in both legs (knees, calfs, feet) has stopped completely. The tendinitis in both of my arms has improved, but hasn't stopped completely. I am already feeling 80% better, & am encouraged to the point that I believe all of my negative symptoms will disappear soon. I haven't informed my doctor yet, (that I stopped taking LIPITOR cold turkey), because I am trying to exercise daily, doing at least 45 minutes on our treadmill, (something I couldn't do with the constant leg pain & exhaustion), eating healthier. (I should lose at least 20 pounds) & I've added Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 tablespoon 3 times a day, to my daily routine. I heard that this has helped others to lower their total Cholesterol number. I will do this for a few months, then have blood work done. No matter what, I will NEVER go back on Statins. Good Luck Everyone :)

I was out of the county where I contracted a supposed bacterial infection. The doctor prescribed Levaquin 1500 mg (500 mg x 3) for five days. Within days, I was experiencing the most severe back pain (to the point where it would have been preferable to have been doused in gasoline and lit on fire), both arms went numb, my heart rate skyrocketed to 130 bpm and I began passing out. I seriously thought that I was going to die and here I was in the middle of Africa with no one to help me. I finally got home after a 35 hr flight that has to be the most traumatic experience of my life. Five months later, I am in constant pain with numerous trigger points and extensive connective tissue damage in my back. I can no longer write because my fingers are so destroyed by arthritis-like symptoms. I am suffering from anxiety attacks and depression. I have chest pain and palpitations on a regular basis and now my knee has suddenly developed tendinitis when I have not exercised for 2 weeks. This drug has destroyed my life. I am 27 years old and was healthy before I took this drug and now I have become completely debilitated. This drug should be pulled from the market immediately! I will be pursuing legal recourse for my pain and suffering and I encourage others to do the same.

53 y old male,took lipitor in april 2007 20mg i have had problem in past with disc in neck and tendinitis in elbow but nothing for 10 years by aug i had very bad wrist and thunp pain even holding a pizza box so off to Dr said tendinitis use a thumb brace and phy therapy nothing after 2 months so i am going to different orthopaedic dr.Than 4 weeks ago woke op oct 3 pain in lower back i said ok use some ice went to work and it would be gone in 3 days by oct20 could not take pain in back and siatic nerve server pain down to foot gave pain pills and nothing went to spine specialist said hernaited disk L-4 L-5 and spinal stenosis from disc touching nerves in channel so he wants to operate i ask can lipitor cause this he said nojust look at the MRI but what causes the iflamantion to cause problems in wrist and servere pain in lower back and leg was it lipitor.The pain was so servere the best pain meds could not take the pain awayseep fir 2 hrs than walk around house for 1hrs at o330 in morning caused it hurt so much.@ weeks wastes so i went to chiro dr and after 2weeks i am more liveable and can sleep better .I will go to pain mangerment ti get a shot or operate,its called Discectomy,hope all theres dr know they might be fighting affects of lipitor.We all must get educated and give this info out to ithers

WHY IS THIS DRUG STILL ONTHE MARKET???? My wife is in severe pain after taking just 2 days worth of 750 Levaquin. Fear of dying, legs trembling, vomitting, hips and back pain, headaches, and severe stomach pains! Does anyone know how long this willl last? It has already been 3 days since she stopped taking the pills! DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL!!!

LEVAQUIN is a FLURO quinelone. The fluoride replaces the iron in metalloproteases in your tendons. Remodelling to stress thus fails to occur. It is a molecule shapped like a horseshoe. The base is the formula for an INHIBITORY neurotransmmitter: GABA. It also causes cardiac hyperpolarization. If these dangers are not carefully examined before taking the drug, you are playing Russian Roulette.

But don't just be hysterical. Read. America can't survive as a nation of hedge fund BSers with no grasp of science or math. Doctors are drowning in HMO paperwork and 5 mins. per patient. They can't be thorough and don't have time to read other than the BS of drug salesmen. So don't go by the stupid TV ads. READ-->LEARN-->READ--> and contact the FDA and drug company to get their info on your side effects. If they lie, you have a case. Fight for yourselves instead of just panicking over symptoms. That could kill you whether you stop or not the drugs.

I've been taking Triamtrn/HCTZ Tab 75-50 for HBP, approx 4 years. During that time I have had three occasions when my left ankle became so inflamed, swollen, and painful to touch that I could not walk. On the first two occasions this problem was diagnosis as Tendinitis. On the third occasions I have been told that the problem may be a form of gout that can be brought on by my medication. Is it true that Maxide and its generic will produce uric acid which could ultimately lead to developing gout.

I am so glad I found this sight! For all Prednisone users out there...I was prescribed Prednisone for an upper respiratory infection (I had for 9 months). I was prescribed a 21-day 'taper down' course five (5) times; in actuality not all that much...if I had only known what this drug would do to my body! Besides the insatiable hunger and weight gain (5 - 7 lbs. weight gain per course of the drug), the swollen face/neck, muscle aches, double-vision, sleeplessness - I have been through the worst three (3) years of my life since taking this 'drug'! Three years ago, I had the worst knee pain (in both knees). The orthopedists said tendinitis, bursitis, IT band syndrome...finally a new ortho. ordered an MRI and found out I had Stage II Avascular Necrosis (AVN) in both knees. This is a condition where the blood flow has STOPPED reaching a certain area of the body. It is a side effect of this so-called 'wonder drug' (Prednisone). I had the surgery that is used for AVN (Core Bone Decompression) - it did NOT work! They tried other surgical procedures to no avail. A big issue was that AVN in the knee is very rare. AVN commonly strikes in the hip. There was little or no medical documentation on how to treat AVN in the knee(s). A year later, I ended up having total knee replacements in both knees. Last summer (Summer '06) I broke a bone in my pinky finger by barely hitting a wall in frustration over all this. My bones are extremely brittle from this drug. I am sitting writing this after having dental (oral) surgery because I have lost four (4) teeth as a result of this drug! I need over $7,000 in dental work (implants/bone grafting) that insurance does not cover as a side effect from this drug. I realize that some people out there must take this drug...If you have taken this drug, and have pain in your hips and/or knees, please ask your doctor for an MRI (AVN can not be seen in X-ray until end stage - when the joint collapses from lack of blood flow) and see your dentist regularly. I am only 34 years old and if I can reach just one person regarding the side effects of Prednisone, I will sleep better tonight!

After taking various dosages of prednisone over a 3-4 year period for severe asthma and chronic sinus infections I discovered that prednisone will destroy your bones. I have bone denisty loss, arthritis in my spine, knee and flare ups in my hands and wrists. I now have chronic pain-not a matter if I will be in pain just how severe. Just this week I developed tendinitis in both ankles. I never would have taken prednisone if I had known what it could do to me. The weight gain, moodiness and hyper feeling are just minor side effects to me-they go away when you finish the treatment. Now I am in pain daily and having a difficult time supporting my daughter and myself. From what I have researched it will just get worse. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION! It is not worth the benefits.

I took Levaquin for about 2 weeks December 2004 for ear/sinus infections. When the infection recurred in January, my doctor told me to double the dosage and take it for another week. 2 days into it, my achilles tendons started hurting badly enough that I couldn't walk. I got off the Levaquin but have had tendinitis for 6 months now. An MRI found that I have fluid filled cysts on the both tendons, and I need surgery. Don't take Levaquin unless you have no other choice.

Two years ago I received a shot of Kenalog in my shoulder (40 mg) to relieve calcified tendinitis. It worked wonderfully--all pain disappeared for more than a month (even my migraines). However, my period went berzerk: I bled for weeks on end. It finally stopped, then a week later it started again. I suspected the Kenalog was the cause since the period problems started at the same time as the injection, but 2 different doctors (family physician and gynecologist) both told me that "no way" could Kenalog cause excessive menstrual bleeding. My orthopedic doctor, who gave the injection, said "well, maybe." My periods went back to normal after a few months and I had no other side effects.
Now it's 2 years later and my shoulder was hurting a lot again, so I went for another Kenalog shot. I was hoping that it was just a fluke the first time. Also, this time I received much less: only 10 mg of Kenalog vs. 40 mg. last time. Well, the shot relieved about half of the pain, which was still enough to allow me to do physical therapy, which will provide a long-lasting solution to the pain. But once again my periods are all messed up! I have been bleeding for 6 weeks now, with no end in sight! I was prescribed progesterone (10 mg, once per day for 10 days) several days ago to stop the bleeding and re-set my cycle, but so far, the bleeding hasn't even slowed down. I take Tylenol and naproxen for the very painful cramps. This time my gynecologist DOES think the bleeding is from the Kenalog, but he is also checking out other possibilities. They did an ultrasound and found a small fibroid, but they don't think that's the cause. I have to go back in 6 weeks for a follow-up. No matter what, I will never take Kenalog again!!

I took 15 days of Avelox in March 2004. This was given with Prednisone (Medrol) which enhances the possibility of an ADR. I initially had lower leg and Achilles tendon pain, then sharp wrist pain. Paresthesia soon followed. I called my ENT who told me to quit the medication. Nevertheless, a couple days later, I developed a rash on my palms which looked like allergic vasculitis, and the paresthesia intesified. My GP suspected a drug reaction and performed CPK tests. CPK 3 came back elevated but later returned to normal. A couple weeks later, numbness developed in my toes.

A neurologist has so far diagnosed me with bilateral ulnar neuritis (nerve inflammation in the elbows), carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendinitis. There is also evidence of a peripheral neuropathy. I can no longer exercise, and it hurts to type. My hands are still red and inflammed.

ADRs to this drug are virtually identical to those of Levaquin. the drug is extraordinarily dangerous, and should be reserved for the most aggressive infections.

In my opinion, Levaquin is a dangerous drug. In January 2002, I had a severe cold/sinus infection for which my Dr prescribed Levaquin. I had started a moderate exercise program, and was doing curls with 10 lb dumbbells. I developed SEVERE tendinitis in both elbows within 2 weeks, while taking the drug. I've had cortisone injections, tried stretching, medication, and forearm braces, and nothing has helped. I'm possibly looking at surgery in the near future. My orthopedist was quick to conclude that Levaquin was indeed the cause, combined with the light exercise, which, under normal circumstances, couldn't have possibly caused tendinitis. DO NOT exercise if you're taking this awful drug, and if you're reading this, please get off of it as quickly as you can.

I received an injection of kenalog for tendinitis. Within 2 minutes of the injection I blacked out and had a seizure. My doctor's office is in a hospital and I was brought to the ER. After a CT and EKG they sent me home, saying I had an allergic reaction to the drug. I will need to see an allergist to see what exactly in the drug caused this reaction.

After taking Levaquin for over 2 weeks, I ran in a 10k
race. Afterwards I had ankle and foot pains, and severe
tendinitis in both of my achilles tendons. It's only now
improving a month after the long run. Possibly patients
should be warned against great physical exertion.