-Bullseye rash in 2010 -treated by LLMD within 2 weeks of rash continuously for the last 7 years (only treated me with 1 ABX at a time - high dose Doxy) -have felt about 90% through 7 years of treatment but could never get to 100% or be able to stop ABX -brain fog and moderate back pain throughout (no history of back pain before lyme)
-switched to a Burrascano type LLMD 3 weeks ago -new doc put me on 300mg doxy, 600mg rifampin and 1000mg tinidazole -after starting rifampin for about a week BEFORE I even added tini:
Horrible excruciating lower back pain. Consistent. Hasn't gotten better in 2 weeks. Same level of pain. Other symptoms such as brain fog and being disoriented have gotten worse as well but definitely wax and wane.
Does the back pain sound like a herx? It's a very sharp pain. Could it be a side effect of rifampin?
Posts: 29 | From NJ | Registered: Feb 2017
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Since back pain has been a symptom for you as soon as you started your lousy lyme treatment, then it makes sense to me that when you get good treatment, you would get worse back pain.
Herxes are worse lyme symptoms than normal or new lyme symptoms.
Your story is so much like mine. I was on one antibiotic (doxy) for 2 years. Then, I switched to a Burrascano type doc and the lyme got ambushed with 2 meds--one for the spirochete and one for the cyst form. Bam! I had my very first herx.
So, although nobody can know for sure, my guess is that this is a result of being on tinidazole which kills cysts. This is your first experience killing cysts and spirochetes together. So, you have experienced your first real lyme herx!
Should I say congratulations? Congratulations for getting to a different doctor who is now giving you great treatment. I expect to hear a good report from you in the future. Looking forward to it.
A quick Google search of rifampin side effects shows that it can cause joint pain. The back is full of joints/vertebrae. But, since this is the same pain you have been having except worse, I vote for it being a herx symptom in your case.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Carol thank you for your input. It doesn't seem to be in the kidney area. And I've heard rifampin shouldn't be stopped once started? That's my concern there.
TF the pain started about 3-4 days after I added rifampin, so this was before the tinidazole was even started. Nonetheless my instinct is telling me it's a herx and to hang in there but I don't know how much longer I can. Isn't a herx a step in the right direction? Or is it counterproductive? I don't want to stop if this is what's supposed to happen. Even though it really sucks.
Posts: 29 | From NJ | Registered: Feb 2017
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Celiac can cause low back pain. Are you gluten-free? If not, you might look into that for many reasons. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
The more I sit here in agony the more I think it's a herx. Nothing physical took place to cause this. The cocktail of new ABX that I started is the only thing. How long is this supposed to last???
Posts: 29 | From NJ | Registered: Feb 2017
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Nobody can say how long a herx can last. If your body has trouble detoxifying, it could go on and on.
I detoxified with no problem so my herx was 3 days of feeling lousy and 4 days of feeling half lousy.
Detoxify in as many ways as possible and see if the symptom lessens.
Drink lots and lots of water with fresh lemon squeezed into it. All day, every day. 4 lemons per day is what my doctor wanted me to do.
Take Alka Seltzer Gold with lemon or lime squeezed into it. Do it 4 times per day. You should feel better in hours.
Take glutathione.
Read posts about detoxifying for more ideas. Some swear by coffee enemas. They say they are great.
Sweat out toxins. One way is taking a hot or warm Epsom Salts bath. I used to stay in for 1 hour, sipping warm water the entire time so as not to dehydrate. Add hot water to keep water hot.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
I got bad back pain with Rifampin, so much so that I had to stop for a week and then restart it at half dose for a while before moving up, so that may be a possibility with you too.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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Did you determine that the rifampin backpain was a side effect of the medicine or a herx?
Posts: 29 | From NJ | Registered: Feb 2017
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
If back pain was a side effect of Rifampin for ukcarry, I doubt that what she did would have made it go away (she stopped it for a week, then restarted at half dose, then moved up to full dose again).
What she did is what lyme patients do when the herx symptoms get unbearable. So, Luciano, I suggest you give some thought to calling your doctor tomorrow about cutting your dose in half or stopping the med for a bit to try to detoxify.
Perhaps your doc will prescribe some glutathione for you. It helps many. The best is IV and next best is suppositories. Why not ask for the suppositories and try them.
I truly hope that you get relief with focusing on detox. I expect you will, especially if your doc will give you something to help you detox.
Let us know what happens over the next few days!
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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