Pain Quinine and other medication.

[beaton]

I've had quite a lot of muscle pains, I had a spasm in the trapezius muscle two months ago and due to mortons neuroma had a spasm last week in which my toes went in different directions. These have both left me in pain. My GP suggested quinine tablets or tonic water but I am not sure if the adverse side affects might outweigh the benefits. I'm on other meds would these react to quinine???

[Barnclown]

When i'm prescribed a new med, my drs & consultants always tell me to see a pharmacist with my list of meds & supplements to check for contraindications

And i'm on a form of quinine. My primary conditions is systemic lupus, and I have 2 mortons neuromas (1 each foot) amongst the many diagnosed conditions & secondaries that accompany systemic illness. Soft tissue (inc muscle) pain, spasms & cramps are part of my mix big time. My infant onset Lupus diagnosis was lost when I left home as a teen. 2.5 yrs ago, at 58, I was finally re-diagnosed & immediately put on hydroxychloroquine, an anti malarial. To my amazement, this Rx helped take the edge of most all of my spasms & cramps. Since then, Amitriptyline, prednisolone & now mycophenolate alongside the hydroxy, are all helping control my spasms & pain better than years on NSAIDs & analgesics ever did....

So, good question, and good luck

[beaton in reply to Barnclown]

Thank you Barnclown,your symptoms are similar to mine. I can't take meds like Amitriptyline so perhaps quinine is the way forward.xx

[Barnclown in reply to beaton]

Good luck. This seems to have to be a sort of trial & error. Just a suggestion: if you haven't already, google hydroxychloroquine - e.g. I think wiki explains the part quinine plays in this type of med. if plain quinine doesn't help, it would be interesting to know what your gp thinks of hydroxy.

You're the first mortons neuroma person I've encountered....no hard feelongs if you don't want to get into this here, but am interested: have you had yours long, how do you manage them etc

[beaton in reply to Barnclown]

Hi Barnclown,thanks for the info. I have had Mortons in both feet for many years. i didn't know what it was until three years ago when I was referred to Rheumatology,I have Psoriatic Arthritis and feet were a problem. Unfortunately after three years the rhumy got fed up with me because all the meds. he offered me gave such bad side effects. I am seeing another rhumy late next month and hope he will be more sympathetic. So in short,had Mortons over twenty years but no meds. I was sent to podiatry about five or six years ago but all he wanted to do was stiffen the soles of my shoes,that made walking worse,so that idea was abandoned.Wish me luck for the new rhumy appointment but I don't hold out much hope.xx

[Barnclown]

Thanks Beaton, and I do wish you luck!

For what it's worth:

My MNs (with associated bursitis+synovitis+capsulitis) were diagnosed in 2008 & confirmed with MRI in 2012. I've managed lifelong feet probs conscientiously via sensible shoes & bespoke orthotics (regularly reviewed). But cause i'm globally hypermobile (ligamentous laxity), and my infant onset SLE went systemically untreated till recently, my tendons have tightened...result: gastrocnemius tightening, claw toes, forefoot constriction, pes planus & the MNs etc.

2 steroid injections to the worst forefoot only gave 30 days relief. But last autumn, my pain consultant referred me to a CRPS foot wizard ortho surgeon in Bristol, who ordered 40 min of gastrocnemius stretching (arduous), which has helped enormously to reconfigure my feet & take some pressure of the MNs etc....but looks like I'll have to do this 40min/day for years (am in my 15th week now). I just mention it, cause although I've researched MNs thoroughly, I hadn't found mention of this treatment re MNs anywhere, although hypermobility is sometimes cited as a cause.

NHS podiatry has been worthless for me too: e.g there was a sweet little man in a clinic cupboard who made me orthotics out of cardboard & cotton wool...

Take care...maybe let me know how you get on...

[beaton]

Yes Barnclown I shall keep in touch and thank you again for your advice.xx