<p>Argh! Am just returning from a week in DC. The last 48 hours have been pretty uncomfortable as the base of my left big toe has swollen and is tender to the touch. H is guessing it is gout, tho I am allergic to shellfish and didn’t consume any. Didn’t oarticularly eat much inflammatory food. Gave started taking a course of Avelox (antibiotic–ABX) because half the folks at the meeting were sick and shared their colds with me. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence that it started worsening with the ABX or gout, which I have never been formally diagnosed with but H has suspected that H and I may have these tendencies. I am now post-menopausal which ups my chances of gout. <sigh>!</sigh></p>
<p>The soonest my internist can see me is tomorrow @ 10:30 and no podiatrists are available until next week or later!</p>
<p>Was this prescribed by a doctor? Am wondering as considering colds are usually caused by viruses, not bacteria…taking antibiotics for colds or potential colds is a bit unusual. Anti-biotics are not meant to combat illnesses caused by viruses. </p>
<p>Hope the doctor can help get to the bottom of this and you get better soon. </p>
<p>Yes, because I have a severe chronic lung condition, my lung docs want me to take an antibiotic at first sign of infection so it doesn’t progress to pneumonia and hand be in the hospital. I always advise my docs when the infection begins and when I’m starting ABX. </p>
<p>Have read that ABX can also cause tenderness and pain. :(</p>
<p>I can’t take any of the flouroquinolones, as they cause connective tissue pain.
IMO they are a case of the bark being worse than the bite, unless they are the only option.
I would call your Dr and ask.</p>
<p>Yes gout is a strong possibility. And this is just a reminder of something you probably already know. Since you are on an antibiotic, you may want to take some probiotic also - for as long as a month after finishing the antibiotic. </p>
<p>Shellfish is not the only cause of gout. In some people, eating significant quantities of red meat can cause gout. A relative takes Allopurinol for gout. By the way, is the joint red and is it “hot” to the touch?</p>
<p>Yes it is red and warm to touch. I really hate ABX but am glad it’s been 38 months since my last course, which is a record for me. </p>
<p>The lung doc wanted me to be on daily azithromycin but I vetoed the idea as the potential harm outweighing the benefit of long term maintenance therapy. It is recognized and advocated as such. I am very much in the minimal Rx camp. </p>
<p>I have not been eating much more red meat than usual recently and am surprised and dismayed by this painful attack. </p>
<p>I went to the Dr. Recently because I thought the toe next to my big toe might be broken, even though I could recall doing nothing that would have caused a break. The ortho. Guy said it wasn’t broken, and that it could be gout. my regular doc said gout is hard to definitively diagnose without doing something that doesn’t sound very pleasant, but a high uric acid count is also an indicator (I think). Good luck. Mine went away within about a week.</p>
<p>Brother in law had gout recently and decided it was from too much oatmeal (it somehow affects the uric acid count). He cut out the oatmeal and got better right away.</p>
<p>Off topic and I’m guessing unlikely since you say both shoulders, but Toledo, is there any chance what you’re experiencing isn’t due to taking this but is frozen shoulder?</p>
<p>I had frozen shoulder too, although that didn’t hurt unless I tried to use my arm.
I had to get a cortisone shot, then physical therapy.
The pain from the antibiotic was deeper, and was even if I am stationary.</p>
<p>Possiible gout food causes: alcohol, shellfish, red meat–foods high in purines; breaks down purines into uric acid which if levels become too high can crystalize and tend to localize in small joints like toe. </p>
<p>Treatment: I found NSAIDs (ie Aleve) and a lot of cherry juice to be effective. It takes a few days to totally subside. There used to be a sent from heaven anti inflammatory on market (Bextra) that would knock out problem within 24-30 hours but was pulled off market along with Vioxx due to risk of heart and stroke risks.My first attack was so acute that MD looked at it, said he thought it was gout but would only know for sure if he aspirated joint and looked for uric acid crystals. I was in such acute pain that I told him if he touched my toe I would kill him. I watch what I eat very carefully now with a gout history in mind. Very, very painful form of arthritis, would not wish on worst enemy.</p>
<p>Texted pulmo who believes it is the ABX and told me to stop ABX immediately and go in to see the local lung doc about the lung infection. Will see him in a few hours to figure out what to do about the lung infection issue. Will likely cancel the appt with internist. </p>
<p>Could be a bunion, which also causes redness, inflammation, immobility, and pain (esp. if you have been on your feet a lot or wearing tight shoes). Get an x-ray before assuming it’s gout.</p>
<p>It may or may not be gout related. Google hallux rigidus. Mine flares up from time to time, only on the left. I can take NSAIDs so that works well for me. Good shoes are important. I can’t really wear heels anymore.</p>
<p>I never wear heels or tight shoes. The lung doc feels it is drug-induced gout and running some blood tests to confirm. He’s switching me to another ABX in a different family that hopefully will clear the infection without side effects. </p>