Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center

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What do I have?

I have some questions about a couple of different kinds of arthritis. According to the local emergency room, I have “strep arthritis”. My regular doctor, whom they told me to follow up with said I had “post infectious arthritis” but then wrote that I have “post inflammatory arthritis”. I am so confused as to what is the true diagnosis and how to figure that out. I’ve been trying to get in to another doctor for a second opinion but haven’t had any luck so far. Further information that might help is that my streptozyme level was positive. My STZ Titer is 200. My throat culture for strep was negative. My SED Rate is 33. My White Blood Cell count is normal as are all other blood tests at this time. Symptoms include sudden onset, severe pain in the shoulders, knees and several minor joints (ankles, wrists, elbows, etc.) about two weeks ago now. The pain sort of floats around and does not stay steady in one joint but is predominately in the shoulders every day. With pain medication the pain is tolerable but not gone. Without pain medication I cannot even undress myself. Any help anyone could give me is appreciated.

Arthritis and Ice Cream

I have recently begun to study herbology and one of the big claims is that Arthritis is badly affected by ice cream from the various components of the mixture. Do you find this to be possible? I ask because my 89 year old grandfather has begun to eat a lot of ice cream (daily) and now the arthritis in his neck has become unbearable. I understand age is a factor but it seems that when his consumption went up so did the pain. He is still active (mows his own lawn, goes out for weekly cards, walks and shops on his own.) The only thing I have noticed different is this consumption.

Will travel vaccines effect my Sjogren’s?

I am a 30 old female with Primary Sjogren’s. (I currently do not take any meds for treatment.) I will be taking a trip to Southern India at the end of Dec. (I will be in a city and will not be in the country side at all.) My Primary Doctor recommends getting Hep. A, Typhoid, Tetinus, and Malaria vaccines before I go. I understand that the function of a vaccine is to initiate antibodies to attack the antigens thus causing recognition and subsequent resistance to these viruses and bacteria. My fear is that with an increase in antibody production this will exasterbate my current syndrome and cause further damage to my own body. I consulted my rheumatologist and he didn’t really have an answer for me. He told me to get them anyway. So, should I get the vaccines and potentially be protected from contracting these deseases? Or would it be safer/healthier to not to get them and take the chance of possibly coming into contact with one or more of them and getting sick? What’s worst? Do you have any advice or sugestions?