Levaquin side effects-tendons
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
I’m 53 years old and active. 11 weeks ago I took Levaquin for 14 days. I had slight tendon side effects during treatment. After treatment, effects got worse – pain countenance within the load bearing ligaments and the achilles heels. The pain was crippling. In this account, I’ll refer to time in weeks since stopping Levaquin.
After 1 week, I started reading forums, physicians’ accounts, and all These will scare the hell out of you – ruptured tendons, recovery periods lasting years, and so on and so fourth The following were the most useful: 1) One physician’s report states that he had 4 patients with ligament side effects. Of the 4, 1 recovered in 3 weeks and all recovered within 3 months. 2) A physical therapist provides a brilliant case history.(Google “Dr Greene physical therapy levaquin tendons”.) In this, the patient sees his first therapist for 4 weeks with poor results. He begins with Dr. Greene. For 7 weeks the goal is, protect the heels. Over the next 4 weeks they begin “loading” his tendons and he improves greatly. At 5? months, he’s fully recovered. 3) each and every persons’ recovery period is unique. Some recover in days, others weeks, months or years. But, all seem to recover. 4) Recovery is not linear. You experience improvement one day only to have it reversed the next. you can most defiantly plateau for weeks with no progress.(Items 3 and 4, are very frustrating causing fantastic anxiety.) 5) A small tip: before injury, I owned quality hiking sandals with spongy soles and adjustable straps. During my recovery, these have been lifesavers since I wear the sandals with the back straps loose applying no pressure on the excellent heels. 6) Everybody will offer advice, but they have no idea what you’re going through or how to cure you. There is no magic pill. Time is the unsurpassed medicine. FYI: I take: Aleve, collagen, magnesium, calcium, chondroitin and a multivitamin.
My case report:
Weeks 1 and 2 - I was flat on my back always uncomfortable or in pain. If I owned crutches, I could’ve new them.
Weeks 3 to 4 - I would move around the house with sore leg tendons and stiff painful heels. Most nights I had gone to bed in pain, waking up feeling stiff and sore but better. Soon feeling worse. Not being able to leave the house even to go to the mail box without raising pain and feeling tired. Anxiety setting in.
Weeks 4 to 6 – Some improvement, now moving around the house with only stiffness and soreness. had gone to supermarket but had to set down at register and for several days had pain increased. Frustrated and worried to tears.
Weeks 7 and 8 – No change. Recovery clearly going to take three or more months. I filed an FDA Med Watch Report.
Weeks 9 and 10 – A little progress, stretching both leg and heel tendons but they remain tight. Tire easily. Despair is setting in. Considering life as a cripple.
Week 11 – Out of nowhere, burst of improvement. first day of the week, Sunday, started out classically. Later felt better and rode bike a short distance (easy on the magnificent heels). When I returned, my legs were tired but a couple hours later felt better. So, I took my son to the tennis court and hit balls to him. The legs got tight and achy, but no carryover pain to next day. Monday, rode the bike a little further. Later, had gone to tennis courts to hit a few balls with friends. Couldn’t cover a vast number of ground and after 15 minutes was done. But again, no carryover pain. Tuesday, rode bike again going further. Later, played doubles (standing in one place) with boys resting on the high-school team. Managed to play an hour still stiff and sore the whole time. On Wednesday, had gone shopping to several stores. Still sore and tight, but recovered in an hour. Later, hit balls for a couple of hours with restricted movement but for the first ? hour, little soreness or pain. Later, the heels tight. But, after sitting down 15 minutes, continued for another hour with soreness. Again, no carryover pain to today.
I’m now hoping for full recovery between 3 and 5 month period noted in 1 and 2 above.
Hope this is handy.