Progression of Tendonitis

by K Bunn
(Stevenson Ranch)

On my 50th birthday, Sept 24th, 2010, I began taking Cipro for a urinary tract infection. After two capsules, my feet and lower legs swelled so much that I couldn't bend the joints. We called the doctor and he took me off the medication immediately and saw me that same afternoon. When he had prescribed Cipro, he'd asked me if I'd ever experienced any problem with it prior and, I told him that I hadn't. What I didn't realize is that the first time I'd been given Cipro for a sinus infection, six weeks later, I woke up with incredible pain in both my heels. Eventually the pain in the left one went away, but the right achilles tendon became partially ruptured. I was puzzled then about why I had the condition because I'd not had an injury. My doctor at that time never made the connection to Cipro as the cause for the rupture either. This is why I took Cipro again -- but this time, it only took the two capsules to cause a severe adverse reaction.

Since then, tendonitis has moved through most of my body. Started at my feet, worked it's way into my arms and wrists. (I actually displaced three of the bones in my right wrist picking up a heavy cooking pan at Thanksgiving.) There were several weeks when I felt drunk and like my legs were not getting the message my brain was sending them. While a general tightness and soreness still exists just about everywhere, my major symptoms seem to change from this place to that. Two weeks ago, I woke up with a swollen jaw that became a six day migraine (mitigated now with feverfew), and then also a sore and swollen throat on the left side. At first I thought I had a dental problem, but my chiropractor told me that I had TMJ which essentially is tendonitis of the jaw. The pain makes it nearly impossible to sleep and there is pretty much no anti-inflammatory or pain killer that has worked on it. I am trying acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments and icing my jaw and head as well as placing ice chips inside my mouth between cheek and gum. These things do seem to help temporarily, but it only takes a few hours for the pain and swelling to come roaring back.

Is this progression of symptoms common to many people who have an adverse reaction to quinolones? My hope is that this jaw inflammation is signaling that this "bad spirit" is about to burst out of the top of my head and be gone forever. But, on the other hand, this seems to be never-ending. Every week or two, something different. I mean -- next week since this has moved to my head area -- will I go insane or something? I just don't know what to expect anymore.

As a second question: I used your LT Protocol for about a week and a half, but became quite constipated which made me wonder if the protocol was causing me to cleanse faster than I could eliminate things (which seems strange considering the 1250mg of Mag I take every day). I eased off the total protocol taking just the Magnesium and pro-biotics for the moment until things in my intestinal track become normal again. (I'm happy to report -- things are...moving along now even though they're not exactly normal yet.)

I've purchased every item on the list, but wonder if it makes sense to begin the protocol with just a few of the items and work up to others. Is there anything you can think of that might be causing the constipation from the things in that list; or is it maybe just another result of the adverse Cipro reaction itself? Or -- is it just plain old constipation (which I have to say I hardly ever have).

Thanks for reading. I look forward to what you have to say.

Karen Joy Bunn