reactive arthritis -salmonella poisioning

Posted by Gigi @kivagood101, Nov 27, 2024

F75. Previously healthy, mobile. I got salmonella poisoning at a breakfast place. Confirmed. 5 weeks later I started to hurt all over.. No history of arthritis. Confirmed as reactive arthritis-only 3 sources- HIV/AIDs, IBS, food borne illness. Mine from the latter. Confirmed by Infectious Disease Specialist. Rheumatologist prescribed Celebrex. One pill and violently ill. Now taking Advil. Not helpful. PCP has no clue what to do next and rheumatologist seems uninterested! Trying to do medical research [used to be called Reiter's]. Has anyone had it or had it treated successfully?

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@kivagood101

Finally got in! Had an infectious disease specialist say once you completed the 7 day antibiotic course for the initial offending problem leaves your system completely. Your theory that bits of it hides and returns when it gets stirred up makes more sense! Cite?

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https://versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/reactive-arthritis/#:~:text=One%20theory%20is%20that%20once,good%20days%20and%20bad%20days.
I don't think anyone really knows what causes reactive arthritis (ReA)

When I was initially diagnosed a doctor said there were three possibilities for my future with ReA.

1) ReA could be a one-time event and never happen again.

2) ReA could have a "recurring pattern" of flares

3) Worst case -- ReA could become chronic and never go away.

For me, it seemed like a one-time event until after 5 years I had another bout of ReA. Then my flares started to recur every year.

After 20 years of recurring flares of ReA, I developed another autoimmune condition that was chronic. My rheumatologist insisted that the other condition wasn't reactive arthritis. Eventually everything was called "systemic inflammation" because now I have been diagnosed with multiple autoimmune disorders.
https://www.autoimmuneinstitute.org/articles/comorbidities-in-autoimmune-disease-multiple-autoimmune-syndrome/

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@dadcue

https://versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/reactive-arthritis/#:~:text=One%20theory%20is%20that%20once,good%20days%20and%20bad%20days.
I don't think anyone really knows what causes reactive arthritis (ReA)

When I was initially diagnosed a doctor said there were three possibilities for my future with ReA.

1) ReA could be a one-time event and never happen again.

2) ReA could have a "recurring pattern" of flares

3) Worst case -- ReA could become chronic and never go away.

For me, it seemed like a one-time event until after 5 years I had another bout of ReA. Then my flares started to recur every year.

After 20 years of recurring flares of ReA, I developed another autoimmune condition that was chronic. My rheumatologist insisted that the other condition wasn't reactive arthritis. Eventually everything was called "systemic inflammation" because now I have been diagnosed with multiple autoimmune disorders.
https://www.autoimmuneinstitute.org/articles/comorbidities-in-autoimmune-disease-multiple-autoimmune-syndrome/

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Yay! Now push thru the pain? Sit around and knit?what?

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@kivagood101

Yay! Now push thru the pain? Sit around and knit?what?

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No doctor will want to prescribe prednisone for reactive arthritis ...however it just depends on how much pain you have.

"Low-dose prednisone may be prescribed, but prolonged treatment is not advisable. Antibiotics may be given to treat underlying infection. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as sulfasalazine and methotrexate may be used safely and are often beneficial."
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/331347-treatment#:~:text=Low%2Ddose%20prednisone%20may%20be,specific%20surgical%20treatment%20is%20indicated.

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@kivagood101

What did they treat you with?
Gigi

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Cellebex. One tab caused horrible reaction.
Couple weeks of Rx strength Nsaids.
Now kidneys functioning poorly.
Does/has any one recovered ?? At 75 [F] living alone i am doing everything I can to avoid assisted living.! Any hacks? Or help?

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@dadcue

No doctor will want to prescribe prednisone for reactive arthritis ...however it just depends on how much pain you have.

"Low-dose prednisone may be prescribed, but prolonged treatment is not advisable. Antibiotics may be given to treat underlying infection. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as sulfasalazine and methotrexate may be used safely and are often beneficial."
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/331347-treatment#:~:text=Low%2Ddose%20prednisone%20may%20be,specific%20surgical%20treatment%20is%20indicated.

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Ok, confession time. I've been incredibly fortunate. This bout of reactive arthritis from salmonella at age 74 is my first encounter with anything medically amiss pretty much in my entire life! No surgeries if consequence, some issues with anxiety, but that's it. Wanna be athletic in my 20s and 30s.
Now at 75 I live alonehave no family or close friends. I also have no idea how the medical system works. I don't know how to access park time help.
And I'm scared to death! One day [after 7 days of diahrea] about a month later, my whole body seemed to fall apart!
Has anyone had it self resolve? Has anyone had luck with PT?
If Cellebrex and Nsaids will cause horrible reactions, I'm not sure I want to go forward with all the new fancy meds.
I'm only 5' 0" and 92 lbs.

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@kivagood101

Ok, confession time. I've been incredibly fortunate. This bout of reactive arthritis from salmonella at age 74 is my first encounter with anything medically amiss pretty much in my entire life! No surgeries if consequence, some issues with anxiety, but that's it. Wanna be athletic in my 20s and 30s.
Now at 75 I live alonehave no family or close friends. I also have no idea how the medical system works. I don't know how to access park time help.
And I'm scared to death! One day [after 7 days of diahrea] about a month later, my whole body seemed to fall apart!
Has anyone had it self resolve? Has anyone had luck with PT?
If Cellebrex and Nsaids will cause horrible reactions, I'm not sure I want to go forward with all the new fancy meds.
I'm only 5' 0" and 92 lbs.

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My reactive arthritis went away after a few months on methotrexate. I did PT and ramped up aerobic/weights afterward the RA was gone. The RA hit me hard in 1989 (I'm now 70 and it didn't recur). Methotrexate works by decreasing your attacking cells. Once the immune response diminished, my RA didn't return. This was 35 years ago so there are newer meds now. Meds like Celebrex and NSAIDs help to decrease inflammation, but their effects are pretty limited (and hard on GI tracts). It is good to talk with a counselor as well. He/she can help with some of the grieving process of illness and with steps going forward to have help. Here are some methotrexate pubs (not always easy to understand): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41584-020-0373-9 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556114/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20adverse%20effects,effect%20of%20methotrexate%20is%20hepatotoxicity.

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In May2024 got a food poisoning which started reactive arthritis. Took a while to identify. Was on prednisone and now just starting methotrexate. Not a fan of any meds but flare up started .
Just want this end .

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@kayabbott

My reactive arthritis went away after a few months on methotrexate. I did PT and ramped up aerobic/weights afterward the RA was gone. The RA hit me hard in 1989 (I'm now 70 and it didn't recur). Methotrexate works by decreasing your attacking cells. Once the immune response diminished, my RA didn't return. This was 35 years ago so there are newer meds now. Meds like Celebrex and NSAIDs help to decrease inflammation, but their effects are pretty limited (and hard on GI tracts). It is good to talk with a counselor as well. He/she can help with some of the grieving process of illness and with steps going forward to have help. Here are some methotrexate pubs (not always easy to understand): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41584-020-0373-9 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556114/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20adverse%20effects,effect%20of%20methotrexate%20is%20hepatotoxicity.

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I appologize. I'm really low tech and am struggling to figure out how to use this group.
I was given Cellebrex n then Nsaids mow Methotrexate. The Methotrexate started to cause cognitive disfunction that didn't exist before.
I cant find a rheumatologist in the Bellevue, WA area who will even see me now. They don't believe it exists. I don't know where to turn. I am not experiencing any specific pain. I'd love to hit the gym but my treating rheumatologist said absolutely not.
My most serious symptom is extreme fatigue, cognitive issues, the tendons in both hands are "slipping" and depression. Does anyone have an idea of a major hospital or clinic to call?

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@kivagood101

I appologize. I'm really low tech and am struggling to figure out how to use this group.
I was given Cellebrex n then Nsaids mow Methotrexate. The Methotrexate started to cause cognitive disfunction that didn't exist before.
I cant find a rheumatologist in the Bellevue, WA area who will even see me now. They don't believe it exists. I don't know where to turn. I am not experiencing any specific pain. I'd love to hit the gym but my treating rheumatologist said absolutely not.
My most serious symptom is extreme fatigue, cognitive issues, the tendons in both hands are "slipping" and depression. Does anyone have an idea of a major hospital or clinic to call?

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Mayo Clinic comes to mind; perhaps one of the moderators can give you info on that since it is quite a ways from you. Methotrexate does have side effects when one is on the meds. They go away once off the med. If your reaction is severe enough, ask your doctor if the dosage could be decreased. Aerobic exercise might be out, particularly with the fatigue, but you might still be able to do resistance/stretching. If your rheumatologist could give you a ref for PT to strengthen your muscles, that helps some with the depression and fatigue. Here are some potential side effects (for me it was mostly fatigue, balance, and slight nausea): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20143-methotrexate

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@kayabbott

Mayo Clinic comes to mind; perhaps one of the moderators can give you info on that since it is quite a ways from you. Methotrexate does have side effects when one is on the meds. They go away once off the med. If your reaction is severe enough, ask your doctor if the dosage could be decreased. Aerobic exercise might be out, particularly with the fatigue, but you might still be able to do resistance/stretching. If your rheumatologist could give you a ref for PT to strengthen your muscles, that helps some with the depression and fatigue. Here are some potential side effects (for me it was mostly fatigue, balance, and slight nausea): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20143-methotrexate

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My Rheumatologist said absolutely no PT or exercise! I'm from Minneapolis so I've no problem go back. But how? This is my very first encounter with the medical system. Seriously. How does one actually contact the right dept and the right doc? Reactive arthritis is relatively rare, ageism is a real issue. The Methotrexate is what started the cognitive problems and the Rheumatologist said "live with it"!

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