Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction.

1,052 Members
1,819 Posts
0 Online
Muscles & Bones
/ Arthritis Support Group

Antibiotics for arthritis

Vanyel
Vanyel
Ok, my little mind is reeling. I went to see an oddball doc who likes to dig into things and see if he had any ideas about my arthritis, fatigue, etc. He came up with a theory that my problem is infectious. He says he thinks that a large percentage of reactive arthritis problems are actually infectious and that researchers are just starting to figure this out. I know I have heard of using antibiotics to treat arthritis before but I never really looked into it much. He says the bugs that are implicated are chlamydia pneumoniae (not the chlamydia that is an STD), Epstein Barr virus, and CMV. He tested me for the chlamydia and lo and behold it is positive. Unfortunately that doesn't tell us if I have the infection, only that I have the antibodies, but he thinks it is significant. We are going to test me for the Epstein Barr and CMV too just to see. He says the treatment is 3 antibiotics for 6 months. Has anyone else come across this? Had any experience with it? Heard anything about it? I am curious and trying to figure out if I want to go down this road or not. What do you think?

Vanyel
orichila
orichila
Wish I knew, you have seen more doctors and been through so much more than I have. I have been avoiding doctors for two reasons, for one no insurance right now and two because all the doctors I knew and trusted either didn' t come back after hurican Katrina or they quit and went into another business. I know eventually it will become too much for me and I will have to find another doctor. But just wanted to thank you for letting us know all that you are experiencing with your health and treatments. It will be a big help to me when I go back to a new doctor. But what you have said makes good sense to me also because I have an increase in pain when my sinuses become infected. I know you have been on so much antibiotics that you are questioning the idea of going on them again. I don't blame you for that. I pray you are able to come to the right decision. (((HUGS))) : )
deleted_user
deleted_user
I would be hesitant to stay on antibiotics for 6 months without a good reason. All three of the possible infectious agents are one that we encounter often and are likely to be positive. No one has a complete answer but I doubt that infection with either CMV, Epstein-Barr or chlamdia is the answer. It is more likely to be a virus (which is untouched by antibiotics) or a small unit like what causes mad cow disease. Frequent antibiotics allows really bad bugs to survive, causing problems that do not respond to any antibiotic. Ear infections in children are now recognized as being caused often by virus and a "wait and see" approach is being used so that unnecessary antibiotics are not used!
deleted_user
deleted_user
there are alot of good Drs , one at a re known rehab center that believe that arthritis and other auto immune diseases are caused by inflamnation, ie. infections.
there is alot to it.
most all women have been exposed to the e barr, chlam.cmv, among others.
i was not a candidate at the time, but if i was, i would have tried it.
it makes alot of sense, all the inflammation that goes with auto immune diseases RA OA Lupus.......
i would research it before you reject it.
i also think they will find out that some cancers are caused by t-phage viruses. a couple cancers are in human trials right now.
good luck!!!!
i think if the right antibiotics, or combination of antibiotics, in the right amount, for the right duration were used...it might work!!!!

jayne
deleted_user
deleted_user
I wonder if it can be treated with antibiotics what happens if it flares again? How many times before it becomes resistant? Of course it could also be a virus. Doctors all are educated guessers. I guess if you can look into anything adverse from being on them for so long. Still, every treatment has side effects so.... after checking go with your gut. Time will tell.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My 22yr old daughter was just told she had inflamatory artritis, she just started the antibotic treatment and said it's making her have nausea. She's in college and feels like a 80yr old. Don't know, she had gone to many eastern nations and my feeling is she got this there, although I can't prove that. Just seems strange for her age to get such a thing.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Interesting theories. I've been suffering from inflammatory arthritis for 2 years know, specifically located in my knees, and tried all sorts of treatments and doctors. I'm wondering if my symptoms are also caused by bacteria as I was recently tested for strep and the test came back positive and high. My symptoms all started 2 years ago with what seemed like an injury to my left knee/calf. Reactive arthritis seems like a possibility and I'm continuing to explore that path. I hope you find some answers and please do post more info if you find any relation. I'd be interested to hear if antibiotic treatments help.