Infectious Arthritis Q & A

I had a swollen knee and a pain and I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis 2 month ago. I am 53 years old, not overweight and before that problem exercised regularly and did not have any medical problems. Now I started to feel pain in my heap joints, in two of my fingers and both knee. Three month ago I had a tick bite, I went to emergency but the doctor did not notice something suspicious and blood test was not done. I wonder now is there any change that my family doctor can confuse osteoarthritis with Lyme arthritis. The x-ray of knees was done. On other joint problem, which developed later my doctor does not want to pay attention because it is not in severe pain yet. Thank you

I had a tick bite with a typical rash. The blood test however was negative. I was on antibiotics for 21days which eased the symptoms(joint pains and early morning stiffness of hands). After 3 months I am having the same pains again. My Doctor is not sure if it is Rheumatiod Arthritis or re-occuring arthriris of Lymes Disease as the blood test is negative for both. What is the Differential Diagnosis for Lymes arthritis and Rheumatiod Arthritis, in terms of the symptoms.

Can you take an x-ray of a Lyme Disease swollen joint and have any abnormalities (bone degeneration or bone displacemnt) show up on the x-ray’s? Thank you very much, Paul Santos

Can infectious arthritis caused by strep reoccur? I have never had this condition before and I’m worried about this happening again. What is the best treatment? The step infection was treated with biaxin.

My sister in law is morbidly obese. She had surgergy to remove an infection from her hip. Can being over weight cause this? Is there a name for this? I would really appreciate your help. The Drs. are sending the bacateria for a culture to help determine what type of treatment for her….Thank you for your help.

I am currently having pain in several joints. My knees, fingers and toes are the most painful. I also have tingling in my ring and pinky fingers. Over the last week I have developed a very stiff neck, neck pain and I feel dizzy when I move my head to look upward. Along with my joint pain, I am having a terrible time with my teeth. Last July (2006) I had oral surgery (an Apicoectomy) due to an abscessed upper molar. My stitches opened up 3 days later, I got a post op infection, and now I am having trouble with several other upper teeth. I have uncomfortable pressure in my upper jaw, palate, nose and cheek bones. My throat is very red and sore, too. Even my tonsils have atrophied during the last year since my surgery (my rheumatologist even recently asked if I had my tonsils removed as a child). I have very little facial swelling, though, and just some gingavitis and mild redness the gums. My dentist says their “boggy”. Doctors are baffled as to what is causing all my dental problems and joint pain. 5 years ago I did have a bought of arthritis. Then, my rheumatoid factor was 38. However, all subsequent tests have been negative, including an ANA and one recent Elisa test for Lymes disease. So, my question is, could my arthritis be related to an ongoing infection (dental, or Lymes); or, would it be wise to keep persuing a autoimmune cause? With each round of clindamycin I do start to feel better…dentally and with my joint pain. After all these rounds of antibiotics, though, is it still possible to even have a lingering infection? If so, what would keep it from clearing all the way? Would it also be wise to be rechecked for Lymes disease? Thanks for taking the time to answer my complicated question!