wandering arthritis after Flu...

[MassED, BSN, RN]

I am just wondering if anyone has encountered anything like this:

Sick in February with fever x4 days of 104, cough (reactive wheezing), given antibiotics: Z-pak. I was also given Symbicort. I had the flu shot in the fall 2007. I did go to work that weekend after being sick (I'm bad, no work=no paycheck)

About 7 days later I woke up with excruciating pain in my joints. I didn't get out of bed except to use the BR and that was a chore. I cried the whole time, walking was a chore. I felt like I was dying. It kindof backed off, then about 3 days later I had a spontaneous right knee effusion. Went to the doc, I couldn't put pressure AT ALL on it, still dealt with the glass-like pain in my joints, and was referred to an Ortho. I had an MRI that in fact showed a ruptured popliteal cyst. I had not done any activity (middle of winter in Massachusetts). So then the left one blew up. I'm taking vitamins and this has been going on for 4 months now. I have read about Reactive Arthritis, which is what my PCP has mentioned. I believed it was from the Symbicort (a reaction, an immune response, something...) He didn't believe it was from that, but thinks it's self-limiting. I find that he has no idea and is just looking for a way to appease me. I deal with this wandering pain every day, mainly in my wrists and sometimes my fingers. My knees aren't back to 100%, I still can't crouch down like I did on 2/20 with the eclipse (I noticed the swelling later that night). I had normally crouched, everyday.

I guess my question is if it's a hyper immune response, how does my body calm down? I don't want to have a continued state of hyper response... god knows what else this could turn into (RA?). If it was Flu, at what point will this crap just leave already. It's awful. I can't jog, jump, start IV's by crouching.... or even bend my left wrist right now. What is UP with this?? I don't want to go back to my doctor for a referral as I feel like he doesn't believe me, or if he does, he doesn't know how to help me. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? Very peculiar. I've always been a healthy person, only occasional reactive airway (when the ER I was working in had a mold issue, so that's what I attributed to that).

I appreciate any info, advice, etc. It sucks!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I'm sorry but we can't provide medical advice. We don't want to steer you down the wrong lane. Best bet is to return to your PCP and perhaps get a second opinion.