I took Cipro in October 2012. It was not my first time on this medication. Probably more like my 7th or 8th time on a Fluoroquinolone. But this time was one time to many. I was never warned of side effects, potential adverse reactions, black box warnings etc. even though I had some irregular heart beats from avelox previously. I had almost every ADR in the book when my reaction occurred. On my second day I had a few hives but didnt think much of it. On the third day burning pain started throughout my body as if someone had lit me on fire! The first month I slept about 15-18 hours a day. Could barely get around, it was like mono times 100. The pain was relentless. I didn’t think I would make it.
Here were my symptoms:
1)Nerve pain/burning/stabbing/throbbing/aching
2)Twitches
3)Fasciculations
4)Vibrating
5)Muscle weakness
6)Cracking joints
7)Eye floaters
8)Hot and cold sensations
9)Numbness
10)Electrical shocks shooting up spine
11) Brain fog/couldn’t remember words
12) Crying jags
13)Temperature regulation problems
14)Blood sugar problems
15)Connective tissue/tendon damage
16)Little blood vessels bursting
17)Nausea
18) Worsened Reflux
19)Panic/neurological attacks(especially from dead sleep)
20)Nail ridges
21)Night sweats
22)Tremors
23) Sheer Exhaustion
24) Irregular heart beats
25) Shortness of breath
26)Extreme skin sensitivity to touch
27)Rashes
I am sure I am probably missing some but you get the point. I would say today a little over two years later, I am probably 70- 75% recovered on most days (some relapses here and there), with some damage that may or may not be permanent. Only time will tell. I have some low grade to moderate chronic pain at times which varies on how good I am now with diet/health ,hormones,or my daily life, etc…. Very sensitive to everything but had a sensitive system before. I try to avoid any medications and treat any complications through alternative medicine.
What I did to heal:
1)Magnesium four times a day first couple months then twice a day
2)NAC twice a day
3)Probiotics
4)I did have to take xanax 0.25mg in the first few months to take tiny edge off pain
5)I pretty much lived on green drinks( juiced cucumber,kale and celery) and organic vegan fresh made soups and penta water for the first couple months)
6)Iced my joints a lot
7)Slept a lot
8)Acupuncture after month 4
9) Stretching after month 9
10) Short walks after 10 months
11) Diet strict no gluten, dairy
12)No meat for 6 months
13)No caffeine or alcohol the first year (still makes me flare up) can have some small soy lattes here and there
14)Epsom salt baths after 12 months
15)Gentle yoga after 14 months
16) Added vitamin C, multi, Bcomplex, digestive enzymes, vit D, coenzyme Q10 within the first year
17) Avoid medications and or toxins
18) Tart Cherry juice for pain
Rest don’t push yourself listen to your body, don’t compare how you were before try to just focus on the progress you make even if they are baby steps or sometimes one step forward and one back. Its a marathon not a sprint to heal from this.
Has your neuropathy gone away? I would really like to hear about now that the neuropathy goes away. Mine isn’t painful but it is like wearing wet wool. So annoying and uncomfy.
My neuropathy is much better. It can still flare or I can have weird twinges but huge improvement since I was floxed. I have to watch my diet and activities, I am very sensitive to just about everything now but hopefully I will continue to heal even more.
Heather,
Did you experience ankle , leg & calf swelling and pain? Any upper body soreness and pain. I’m feeling all hat now in month 5 of floxing. It’s my 3rd flox (where I realized it) and am desperate for help.
Hi Heather,
Did you recover from joint cracking?