I have had swelling in my ankles and fingers for the last 10 1/2 months with no relief. I've tried Zyflamend, Glucosomine, Serrazyme, and am now giving Lyprinol (green-lipped mussel extract) a try. Absolutely nothing seems to be helping and it's extremely uncomfortable.
The more I do, the worse it gets. If I walk around a lot, it feels like a vice around my foot. My fingers feel like tight, stretched rubber bands. I've been on Zithromax (3X daily) and Doxy since last August - no changes.
I've gotten energy back but this symptom just won't budge. Am I being impatient? I wonder sometimes if my expectations are unreasonable? Will this ever go away or am I stuck with arthritis? Any suggestions?
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
Hi, I could have posted the same question, wish I had an answer for you. i have tried alot of stuff and thinking of trying salt and C for a while. I am trying to find "Mark's" Lymestrategies site to help out. anybody have a link to said site?
Hope your arthiritis goes away very soon, it is my main complaint too. Mine is more like OA because it is not swollen or hot to touch. IS YOURS??? I can tell my fingers are sort of swollen sometimes, they get so stiff I cant bend them. The finger bones catch and snap "ALOT", especially writting with a pen, every change of direction of every letter is excruciating some days!! Are yours that way when you write, 'like' a check??? kind and warmest regards from--just don--
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I still have arthritis pain, but it's controlled by the mangosteen juice and lumbrokinase helps too. My pain is 90-95% gone...but if I don't take the Xango...I'm not a happy camper!
Posted by lucy96734 (Member # 8372) on :
We are all so different but for me the key was Ketek. I had the worst arthritis, my joints hurt so bad. I couldn't make a fist when I first woke up or if I stopped using my hands for any length of time. My knees, hips, shoulders, every joint hurt so bad.
Prior to finding out I had Lyme I had been to so many MDs and had tried every NSAID and steroid shots as well as every supplement anyone suggested.
I found out I had Lyme (after 5 years of searching) and started Ketek in December. The joint pain was the first thing to go and the only symptom to go and stay away. My other symptoms have come and gone and some have increased but I have been able to make a fist upon waking every morning since mid Jan.
I find it amazing.
Now, if I could get my neuropathy to respond that well I'd be all set
Apple cider vinegar
Sam e
Glucosamine
MSM
Shark cartilage
- what else did I try???
I hope you find relief, it can be so terrible.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
Oh wow! Bring on the Ketek!
Swollen feet and hands for months were helped tremendously by changing my diet.
I still have some pain and stiffness that varies in degree each day, but before I changed my diet, the swelling was so bad and caused such pain, I couldn't stand long enough to take a shower, or use my hands for much of anything. I now can be on my feet for hours and most days my hands function really well.
Apparently some foods cause inflamation and avoiding those will reduce the amount of pain and swelling you have.
Posted by mlkeen (Member # 1260) on :
My arthritis is gone 100%. I have been treated with abx then diflucan for almost 3 years.
I get stiff from over use, I think, at this point. I am regaining flexibility too after being on the couch for so long.
Mel
Posted by mbroderick (Member # 5220) on :
Thanks everyone for your timely replies!! I will try to figure out where to get mangosteen juice (any suggestions?). I've been thinking, too, that an abx switch was also in order. I'll be speaking with Dr. S. tonight or tomorrow. Perhaps Ketek is the key. Anyway, it's time to get off Doxy with this nice weather!
Mel, what abx were you on?
I've played around with diet and didn't find that it was a significant factor at all in the edema. I'm a highschool teacher and need to be on my feet all day. I'm just OK during the day, but really start to hurt by dinnertime. I will try your suggestions!
Posted by mlkeen (Member # 1260) on :
I was on tetracycline for 2.5 years. I think standing makes the back pain and stiffness worse. I would be fine when I first got up in the morning.
By noon I would be extremely sore, fortunately I teach little ones and could lay down at nap time too.
Mel
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
Marian,
I'm so sorry to hear you're still dealing with this severe arthritis.
Mine has actually diminished significantly, but part of the problem is that I'm taking and doing so much, I can't really say for certain what's prompted the improvement.
I have always thought the detox foot pads were helpful to reduce the swelling and some of the pain in my knee. I have used them now for 10 months and still do on a regular basis (every other night). They also help me sleep more soundly.
Now, I'm using essential oils, which I rub in topically several times a day. Again, I think these are helping too.
In addition, I significantly increased my glucosamine dosage.
When I first started treatment, the pain in my knee and hands was excruciating. I'm not at 100% yet, but yesterday, I was getting excited about getting my bike out and riding this spring. Last spring, that would have been absolutely incomprehensible.
Mythoughts are with you; I do hope you're able to find some sort of relief.
Andie
Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :
My arthritic pain was helped by acupuncture treatments. Went to several acupuncturists befroe findind a good one.
It is essential to have someone with a lot of experience in treating your condition. Also, someone with knowledge of herbs.
Hope this helps ....... and thanks for your help the other day, robi
Posted by humanbeing (Member # 8572) on :
My arthritis is in my neck/upper back...helps to do isolated excercises but I fear it will always hurt...
Posted by pomegranite (Member # 3339) on :
Might lymph drainage massage help?
Pom
Posted by mbroderick (Member # 5220) on :
Hey 'just Don',
In reponse to your questions....
My fingers need to do a tremendous amount of writing and typing throughout the day. They are stiff and hurt with too much computer work, but it's not unmanageable. My fingers, though, are very puffy and very stiff. I'm a teacher - can't get away from writing! My insurance is keeping my whole family treated for Lyme so.... gotta do what ya gotta do!
First thing in the AM I'm really stiff. Walking sort of flat footed and sideways down the stairs. I loosen up in about an hour. Stiffen up every time I sit down for more than 10 minutes, and have very painful ankles and feet if I walk alot during the day (which I do almost every day).
Posted by sandygf (Member # 3516) on :
I also have really bad arthritis and sometimes am so stiff I feel I could snap!
When you talk of swollen ankles and fingers -- how do you know if it is edema or arthritis? Also - can arthritis cause edema??
Sandy
Posted by Anneke (Member # 7939) on :
Hello there!
I got arthritis pretty bad last Spring while doing Vancomycin IV. The intensity varied day to day, but did not go away - until I was treated for the co-infections with Levaquin IV for a month, and then Plaquenil for 4 months. The arthritis pain stopped completely about a month into the Plaquenil treatment. I'm hugely relieved about it!
Good luck,
Anneke
Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
My arthritis was worse when I was on doxy. Now that I am on just herbs, it is much better, MOST of the time. Had a little setback this past week, so quit taking Artemisia annua, and it is better again, now.
Devils Claw and Cats Claw, along with Resveratrol, Smilax and Stephania Root are ALL good for Lyme arthritis. I take them faithfully, along with some other herbs for my asthma (which I had before Lyme), and some anti-Spirochetal herbs.
Having the same symptoms since last year, without any significant change is certainly a LONG time, and certainly would indicate a change should be condidered strongly.
I make changes after a month or less, IF I don't notice improvements; and sooner IF I notice setbacks.
Jim Posted by hardynaka (Member # 8099) on :
My arthritis is finished since I added artemisinin high doses (short period) in January. I had never swollen joints, but constant and increasing pain until then (for about 5 months).
The pain is gone until now but if I stop my cats claw/ sarsaparilla combo, they slowly return.
I just tried to stop them a few days ago, for about 3 days, and had pain in my vertebral column, left knee, both ankles, fingers, neck, elbow and arm joint. Now I restarted all them again, together with andrographis. Pain is totally gone since yesterday.
Selma
Posted by mbroderick (Member # 5220) on :
Does anyone have swelling along with stiffness? The areas that bother me the most are 'puffy' and very soft to the touch. Could it be the edema that is causing discomfort? Nothing, though, has budged this. I even tried diuretics last summer.
Posted by burnbitter (Member # 7088) on :
I was on IM bicillin CR for four months and my joint pain improved significantly, though not entirely. And storms really bother me. Also anytime I herx the joint pain gets bad.
Posted by bartonella blues (Member # 9042) on :
Yes, I too have swelling and stiffness and the same time. Mostly in the ankles,feet and hands. I find myself unconsciously flexing my feet and fingers all the time. They hurt all the time and the stiffness is there an a.m. and after sitting for more than a minute.
Because of the foot swelling,I bought shoes one size larger..You would be ammazed how that helps. On days that the swelling is less, I just wear thicker socks.
My Dr prescribed a diueretic ,it helps a bit.Dog-gone it,I guess it's all a part of Lyme-ness.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
I know I have said it many times, so I hope I'm not becoming annoying, but change of diet took away the swelling and with it, a lot of the pain.
I do still have pain and stiffness but to a much lesser degree. I am now able to do so much more.
Apparently my diet was contributing to my swelling.
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
Forgot this story that always gives me "HOPE". Have told this before here so hope it is not a boring 'rerun'.
Before I knew what I had, years ago, I had to have elbow scope surgery. They did a nerve block under the armpit. They were in a hurry and it wasnt numbing fast enough or well enough so they said 'hold on again and we will fix that'. Gave me a double dose on top of what I already had.
After surgery sent me 120 miles home and said it would wake up in just a couple hours. Well it didnt wake up till after 24 hours from getting it.
(VERY weird feeling to have something hanging on you that you can see is your arm but cant feel a thing and it feels foriegn to me)
Anyway, long story short, THAT arm felt comletely fine for about 6 months to a year. I couldnt figure out what happened at the time. Thought maybe doc cleaned out a bone spur pressing on a nerve or something.(Was reading a chat group on that at the time)
NOW, I finnally figured out what was going on, the keets either died or were driven out of that arm (hand)from the freezing(they dont LIKE that).
LLMD said so and keets gradully, slowly, moved back in, and arthritis was back to same old painful stuff.
So moral of the story is to get your arms and legs frozen for a day and they will feel 'good' for awhile!!! Goes to show you why I am --just don--!!! Kill the keets and save your arms and legs!!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by luvs2ride: Apparently my diet was contributing to my swelling. [/QB]
I puff up from eating carbs. Try a strict anti-yeast diet.
Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
Marian:
Have you tried Devil's Claw, Cat's Claw, Resveratrol COMBO???
Heavy doses after ramping up?
Works for me, along with Sarsaparilla, Red Root, etc..
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