Reiters Syndrome or connective tissue problem - Arthritis Message Board

happy43 · 06-12-2003, 10:32 AM

I was wondering if anyone out there has been diagnosed with Reiters Syndrome (or do you know anyone with it). I was diagnosed with it 10 years ago. If you have it, what are your symptoms? I have always wondered if it was the right diagnosis. It began with bad feet pain (which at the time, they thought was plantar faciatis). That has never gone away, but I can minimize it by wearing cushioned slip-on type shoes. I can no longer wear any type of dress shoe or for that matter any type of tie shoe with out my feet and ankles starting to ache terribly. The problem has also moved to my neck and knees to a lesser degree, but if I wear a turtle neck , or pants that are tight around the knees, they start to bother me to. If I type too long (which isn't really very long at all, I feel like I am getting carpal tunnel syndrome where the undersides of my wrist and forearms start to get sore and hot. Anyone else have these types of symptoms? I feel like I am alone to battle this problem, and no doctor has been able to help. I feel like it is a problem with my connective tissues. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Scott

ianday · 06-23-2003, 10:54 AM

I was diagnosed with reiter's syndrome at 19yo after an infection. The symptoms disappeared after a year on anti-inflammitories and have not returned for 30 years.

The last 3 weeks have been hell so I hit the internet to find help.

One ource recommends an extensive (in long term cases) course of low dose antibiotics, the URL follows.

I shall leave you to judge for yourself as my self treatment is in the early stages, which means little despite the success.

Have a read and let me know how you feel
THE Testimony [url="http://www.geocities.com/larrylean99/arthritis.html"]http://www.geocities.com/larrylean99/arthritis.html[/url]
THE Practitioner [url="http://www.rheumatic.org/"]http://www.rheumatic.org/[/url]

Good luck and I hope this has been of help to you
Ian

ianday · 06-23-2003, 10:54 AM

I was diagnosed with reiter's syndrome at 19yo after an infection. The symptoms disappeared after a year on anti-inflammitories and have not returned for 30 years.

The last 3 weeks have been hell so I hit the internet to find help.

One ource recommends an extensive (in long term cases) course of low dose antibiotics, the URL follows.

I shall leave you to judge for yourself as my self treatment is in the early stages, which means little despite the success.

Have a read and let me know how you feel
THE Testimony [url="http://www.geocities.com/larrylean99/arthritis.html"]http://www.geocities.com/larrylean99/arthritis.html[/url]
THE Practitioner [url="http://www.rheumatic.org/"]http://www.rheumatic.org/[/url]

Good luck and I hope this has been of help to you
Ian

margsone · 06-26-2003, 09:32 AM

I was diagnosed with Reiter's Syndrome, now called Reactive Arthritis 25 years ago. My description has been an inflammation and swelling in the ligaments and tendons of the system. That may not be the doctor description but it works for me. It began with heel pain, a fairly common effect. I was pregnant at the time and got considerably worse over the next 8 months. I couldn't walk and was in a great deal of pain.

Some of the symptoms are sausage digits, swollen fingers and toes, inability to lift a limb through its entire rotation, heel pain, finger joint pain, finger joints enlarge with bony stuff similar to RA. I can't wear any of the rings I had in my earlier years. The only permanent disfiguration has been the fingers and toes in the same manner as RA.

This arthritis is genetically marked with HLAB27+ and can be blood tested for. It has parallel illnesses of pseudocholinesterase deficiency and irritable bowel syndrome. My partner has had RS for the last 30 years and has IBS. I have the pd. I have had numerous bouts of flareups and remissions. I take tolmetin sodium, Tolectin 600, and it is definitely a magic bullet for me. Currently I take 10 mgs of methotrexate once a week to stay in remission and my hand hurts anyway. If I stay out of a flare for at least a year, we will try backing off the meth to see if it is truly a remission.

My partner has not been as lucky. He's been on prednisone for about 2 years and has decided to try the Remecaid treatment. It is a treatment for both the IBS and the RS.

This disease will mark you in your insurance but it is not a killer disease. It is treatable.

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So much to learn, so little time...

dtaylor · 08-07-2003, 10:29 PM

I was diag. with Reiters 5 years ago although I have been suffering the symptoms for over 20 years. I contracted Reiters after a bout of food poisoning while in the service. If you do a search on the Net you will find that some sites list some symptoms while other sites will list completely different ones. The truth is Reiters, or Reactive Arthritis as it is now known, is like the other 99 different flavors of arthritis. It has not been studied in any great detail and the medical profession continues to find out new info almost every day.

For example, until I read this board I had never heard of heel pain. Here are my symptoms, all chronic and acute:

Kidney Stones (14), inflammation and pain in the Hands, Hips, Lower & Upper Back, Knees (one knee has almost disintegrated), Elbows, and Shoulders, chronic prostate problems, iritis, sensitivity to light, chronic fatigue, dry eye syndrome, trigger finger, cervical degeneration C3 - C6 with spurs, vasculitis, Restless Leg Syndrome, mouth and tongue sores, minor joint deformation in my hands, and depression. Other than that I am fine :-)

Meds: Oxycontin, Methotrexate, Folic Acid, Carisoprodol, Hyrdrocodone, Lexapro, Cromolyn Sodium eye drops, Mirapex, Celebrex

I have been confined to an electric wheel chair since May and have recently had to leave my job and take disability. Before everyone panics and throws themselves off the top of their stacked pill bottles let me say that extreme cases such as mine are rare. (Lucky me)

So far I do not have heart valve problem or the facial myalgia. I do have one more strange symptom; every now and then I get a sharp pain right in the middle of my breast bone ? The first time I thought it was a heart attack. I was told that the Reiters can effect the connective tissue crossing the breastplate to the ribs. Anyone else have that one ?

Thanks,

DT