Summary

 


 

Carol's  Story

I was ill in November '04 with viral illness and developed headaches which wouldn't resolve.

My primary MD prescribed Levaquin for sinusitis. After I completed the Levaquin I developed L hip pain, buttock pain (tingling, burning).

I thought I injured myself from an exercise class and had an x-ray of my hip which was negative for injury or arthritis.

The orthopedist diagnosed musculotendinous injury, hip bursitis, ischial bursitis, microtear. My symptoms worsened with severe gluteal pain. I was diagnosed with possible 'piriformis syndrome'.

I started seeing specialists and having MRI's, lab tests for rheumatoid arthritis, post viral syndrome, all negative except for a mild disc bulge L5. No sciatic symptoms. I finally saw an Osteopath on the recommendation of a friend. I had trigger point injections and mesotherapy.

A second osteopath, also on recommendation of a friend, asked if I had taken Levaquin after his exam. He suggested my symptoms were related to the Levaquin and told me that it takes 3-6 months to recover. He had at least three other patients with similar symptoms who took Levaquin.

I have been getting worse and it is actually 4 months since I took the Levaquin with resolved L hip pain, but I feel like the illness is traveling around my body. It has gone to my chest (burning), my feet (heel pain, burning throughout my feet), my thighs (heavy and weak so that I cannot get my son to and from school because I can't walk distances or climb subway stairs).

My calves are now tingling. I had been in physical therapy early on but only got worse and the therapist suggested I 'rest' and get MRI's. I resumed therapy after the MRI's returned negative for back therapy and strengthening but I feel worse after treatment. The osteopath told me to avoid myofascial release although I had that back in December and January before I knew about the Levaquin toxicity. I hope I did not do any permanent damage. I finally took a medical leave of absence from my job as a nurse care manager as I could not travel at all.

Last Updated 8/23/05