Tendonitis Anyone?

[DocM]

I have noticed in the last few months recurring tendonitis in my Achilles and bicep and was wondering if this is related to CLL. I'm not doing anything physically that would normally cause this and while I could rationalize that the Achilles could be from strain in climbing stairs, there is no action that would explain the recurring bicep pain.

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

Not related to CLL as far as I'm aware, are you on antibiotics like Ciprofloxacin?

They have been associated with tendon damage recently...

[DocM]

I take Acyclovir when I have a shingles outbreak

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to DocM]

That is an antiviral, not an antibiotic... totally different.

[sparkler]

Chris is referring to Ciprofloxacin because it belongs to a group of antibiotics called Fluoroquinolones. It is very common for them to produce many delayed adverse reactions and often people can develop tendon problems - Achilles, in particular but also Biceps, Rotator Cuffs and any tendons actually, 6 months or longer, after stopping the meds but don't ever make the connection.

A year on, I am still suffering from adverse reactions to Levofloxacin/Levaquin (another FQ; there are others) and during my research, I have found that other drugs (not necessarily antibiotics) can also be responsible for tendon damage; Acyclovir has some association with this effect - though not common.......

Even if an event is listed as 'rare' or even 'very rare', this can mean that it has just not been reported very often....... It may not even be listed in the patient information leaflet and sadly, doctors are not always aware.

Sometimes, drug interactions can be a cause of adverse reactions.

I am not a doctor and I would strongly advise that you do some research yourself on this subject.

Sorry, but I haven't got links to hand, though they are not too difficult to find but I'm just too unwell to search right now.

sparkler x

[DocM in reply to sparkler]

Thanks sparkler. Since diagnosis I have been treated for various infections etc with antivirals and antibiotics, so who knows. I am a former professional coach with a studies in sports med. so I know my body enough to know that something unusual is going on, unrelated to a physical injury. I'm still trying to understand some of the physiology behind all of the potential issues that can happen with this compromised blood. The doctors seem to have a lot of speculative and conflicting information and they tend to study it from a different perspective than us physical trainers do.

[sparkler in reply to DocM]

DocM

I hope your tendons have settled down and if you think that FQs might have been responsible, please feel free to PM me.

Through your sports medicine studies, you'll probably understand that the damage done to tendons through the use of FQs, is different from damage through overuse or straining tendons; the collagen all over the tendon breaks down with FQs and doesn't repair/regenerate in the same or expected way.

sparkler x

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to sparkler]

Just got offered ciprofloxacin with an IV drip for a finger infection that is going systemic. No beds, so I am in an emergency bay for 2 hrs while the drip is delivered.

Thanks for your warning Sparkler; you may have saved me from your shocking experience.

Neil

[sparkler in reply to AussieNeil]

You're welcome Neil.

I'm always glad to help when I can and I trust that there is not a different FQ in the IV?!

I hope you feel better soon.

sparkler x

[PaulaS Volunteer in reply to AussieNeil]

Neil, so sorry to hear this. Hoping and praying that whatever they do - it will work! Good thing you remembered Sparkler's warning....

Thinking of you,

Paula

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to PaulaS]

Yes good luck with getting the finger sorted Neil. Was wondering if this was the result of an 'injury'?

Sparkler's awful experience benefits us all. I wouldn't have these meds either now, risks are too unpredictable.

Get well soon,

Newdawn

[jangreen]

Hi I think its good to have your perpestive as a lot of us just dismiss aches and pains either as part of growing old or due to the cll. Best regards

[DocM in reply to jangreen]

Thanks jangreen. As an elite level coach, we spent a lot of time developing circulatory systems in athletes and teaching the beneficial ramifications of these adaptations to other coaches. Now as a CLL client I'm trying to wrap my head around how these adaptations in myself affects the disease and what symptoms I can expect and how to mitigate them. While I appreciate the sharing of information amongst us for both comfort and information sakes, as with athletes, each person is unique and it is important to know how our own body reacts. That being said, it sure does take some getting used to...especially when at the bottom of a staircase looking up : )

[marcelarr in reply to DocM]

My Father in law recently diagnosed with cll had tendonitis on his Achilles tendon that did not go away last year. It took him 3 infiltrations to finally feel better.

[Hidden]

Hi DocM,

Recently I suddenly got Achilles Tendinitis, I belong to cll guys...usually I'm a sport person, every day and playing soccer. I wonder if there is a connection ....any advise? Thanks.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Body part-itis means inflammation of that body part. Inflammation is caused by our immune response. If we have CLL, then our immunity is impacted to some degree and that could mean a longer time for inflammation to resolve. Neutrophils (white blood cells) are instrumental in causing inflammation - they rush to damaged body parts and remove dead and dying body cells. I don't think your CLL is the cause of your tendinitis, but it might be why it is taking a while to resolve...

Non Doc Neil

[DocM]

As usual, all these things are still up in the air. I just wish the medical community would start an inventory list on common adverse affects in CLL patients. Saying "it is unrelated" when there is a gigantic lack of studies is premature. IMO I say track the symptoms and hold back your opinion until conclusive studies prove it is tied to CLL or not as it seems many of us are having similar issues. There's no shame in saying "we don't know." (Yet)

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Yes it was a tiny injury - a small cut that hardly bled from a bathroom tap when I was replacing a washer. As it turns out, I should have accepted the Cipro with the IV, because the hand infection came back with a vengeance around a month later and a course of Cipro finally? cleared it. The reason I question 'finally' is because my haematologist is concerned the infection may come back in the future when my immunity drops further, e.g. when I have treatment.

What I learnt from this episode is to wear gloves when there's a potential to get cuts and wash and apply Betadine ASAP before bandaging.

Neil

[Justasheet1]

I'll stick my nose in here. If you NEED a FQ, then you should have it. I'm aware of the possible side effects and have voiced them to my CLL doc before. He told me then that it's better than the alternative. If you've had a culture or the antibiotic you are on is failing you, you need to rethink your options. The alternative for me was full blown pneumonia. No thanks. Fortunately I got well on Levoquin without complications.

Jeff