Infectious Arthritis Q & A

I am 34 yrs old. It started about 3 months ago. My right knee felt stiff and swelled up. It was tender and when pressed was painful. I had and continue to have difficulties, walking or driving. My right knee joint is always painful and stiff. I have not seen any doctor yet. Please advise.

My question is concerning Lyme disease. about 3 weeks ago I developed an itch on my neck. it felt as though I must have gotten bitten. however i could detect no site where it looked as if i had been bitten. this area itched and hurt at the same time much like a spider bite i’d had. however I could seen nothing. inside my throat area almost seems affected as well. it comes and goes now and if heat is applied to the area I can see a red circular area. Does this sound like lyme tick bite? I have no insurance and don’t know if it is something I should have looked at. I sure hope you are able to give me some insight on this.

My cousin is battling Lyme disease and sought help through the Mayo Clinic in the Midwest…discovering that Mayo does NOT accept Lyme disease as a real illness….why is this as Hopkins does address this disease?

I was infected with LYME disease at least in 04/2006 when I first had swelling on the left hip (limping) and shooting pain on both legs. Since the problem disappeared after a week, the problem was ignored. It was only in 10/2006 when my right knee swelled, I am diagnosed and treated with two months oral therapy of doxycycline. However, after the medication, the joint problem lingered around, in 04/2007 my left knee swell again. Meanwhile, I noticed symptoms of headache, blurry vision and recently heart problems and shortness of breath. The doctors I am seeing insisted that the LYME has been treated, in fact they seem to only thinking about early LYME and not at all familiar with more complicated forms of later LYME (therefore deny even the possibility). Since the symptoms are progressing, I am desperated trying to find an experienced doctor in DC or nearby area. Could you please advise?

I have tested “excellent” which i guess means negative for RF,ANA,CRP quant, H2LA- B27, ESR, Parvo, Hep B,C , Lyme , Hypothyroid. As you can tell, I am running out of explanations. I still have persistent migratory joint pain. It has been 8 weeks from my initial symptoms of pain in my wrists. No swelling, fever, fatigue, or hot joints. Just pain in basically every joint. Also my shoulders and low back are affected. My rheumotologist believes it is viral infection. I have read from your site most viral infections resolve by 6-8 weeks. Does this mean a gradual resolution beginning the 8th week, or all symptoms should be resolved by 8th week. What else could be causing these symptoms if not RA or viral? I am male, 24 years old. NO family history of autoimmune disease.

For the last 6 weeks I have been experiencing migratory joint pain. It started in the knuckle joints of my hands, moved to my jaw, hips and metatarsel joints. Each day it moves to one of these different areas. My hands and feet feel warm but there in no swelling or redness. I generally feel sick. My family doctor has been treating me for Lyme Disease for 5 weeks with Doxycycline 300 mg with no improvement in symptoms. I did not have the EM rash. All my lab test have come back negative- RF, ESR, ANA, Parvo, and Elisha. With these presenting symptoms what is your medical opinion?