posted
I wasn't on any antibiotics prior to getting the flu, but noticed when I got the flu and secondary bacterial upper respatory infection my neck stiffness went through the rough. It may have started before I took antibiotics too, but around when I took 600mg of azithromycin for the first day was around when I know it got super stiff. I took 300mg each day after and I'm five days in and feeling almost completely better and the stiff neck is just normal stiff like it has been from lyme disease.
I was scheduled to get an MRI of my neck and did so while it was extra stiff. I'll see if they saw any chronic spinal meningitis, if that is even possible. Do we know how lyme causes a stiff neck? If not, we can't measure it.
Posts: 136 | From arlington, VA | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
It is late, so this will be short, but just wanted to say that I had the worst stiff neck the last three weeks that I'd had since I was really sick with lyme a number of years ago
It had been slightly stiff since Dec, but I went off abx completely because I was wanting to take the test for babesia while not on abx. So after three weeks my neck was so stiff, I could not turn my head without pain, but then shooting pains, eye aches, headaches, & more random shooting pains.
Started doxy and the shooting pains gradually diminished, but neck still so bad I went to local doc. He said sounded like arthritis, and after X-rays it is mild to moderate arthritis. Started Physical therapy yesterday morning, and as she was working on the back of my head and neck, she said "Did you know you have a large round rash right here?" Do not know if the doxy caused the rash to show up, or if it had been there after I stopped the Biaxin and Omnicef, but it is pretty clearly LYME arthritis. Haven't seen my LLMD yet, but I do have photos to show him if it is gone by then.
So I would suspect the swelling from arthritis, maybe made worse initially by the abx herx? One other time, when I started high dose doxy after no abx for awhile, I got the big red rash on my forehead, but mostly above the hairline. So I do think the abx can trigger the rash, I would have noticed it right away there.
The earlier stiff neck eventually went back to normal, but since I tested positive for lyme again this year, it just keeps coming back...there was another post tonight that said her Chinese doc said the neck is important in lyme.
Best wishes!
Posts: 287 | From Northern California, USA | Registered: Oct 2000
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chiquita incognita
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posted
Hello Friend The antibiotic I used last (bactrim) has stiff neck as a side effect, listed on the pharmacy's handout leaflet.
Have you reported this to your doctor?
If there is meningitis, it is not something to "Sit on" or wait with. It needs to be handled the sooner the better.
I am *sure* you will improve rapidly and it is good to read that you already are! A testimony not only to the efficacy of the medication, but also to your own inner strength. Bravo!
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