Blisters, joint pain, muscle aches

[stephdon]

About 1.5 weeks ago I was scratched by a cat. 2 days after that I noticed a bump in my scratch, that spread up my arms within 4 days with a mild constant headache.
Got in to see the Doc 1 week after the scratch.
I was given zythromax (4 500 mg pills to take at once) and blood work was done (CBC, RPR, EDR and Bartonella). Within 2 days I was in so much joint and muscle pain in my knees that it was hard to bend my knees or put pressure on them..  I called back to get blood results, everything was normal, the Bartonella was right on the line from being abnormal.
I went back to Dr. in a week.. He gave me more zythromax and added doxycycline, ibuprophen 800.  He thinks perhaps it is something else. But what?
My joint and muscle pain is now in my elbows, lower neck, knees and it feels like my bones right under my knees are sore, not a muscular ache, more deep.
My rash has spread to my neck, legs, fingers and more on my arms.
They are start out looking like a light red bump that becomes blister like, then the center sinks in making the bump look like a crater, nothing comes out.
Some bumps will develop cluters of blisters that will eventually come together to form a larger single crater.
Symptoms today are, weakness, pain in knees and elbows,painful clicking in R knee, no fever or swollen lymph nodes.
Here are photos:
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/primitivefixins/other/bumpsclose.jpg"><p>
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/primitivefixins/other/bumps5.jpg"><p>

Thanks for any suggestions,
Steph.

[ryn21]

The pictures didn’t show up but I would think that azythromycin would clear it up, being if it was a bacterial infection from a cat scratch.  I would definitely go back to your PCP to allow him or her to get a better look at what is going on.  If you aren’t satisfied with his or her prognosis, I would definitely seek out a new PCP or possibly get a referral to a dermatologist.

[stephdon]

Thank you, I have seen my Dr. 2x and go back every 7 days.. He said if they are not minimizing or new ones keep appearing he will refer me to a Dermatologist.
I will ask about the drug you have told me and see if he thinks it could possibly help..

Thanks,
Steph.

[ryn21]

Zythromax is a brand name for azythromycin.  Sorry, I should have been more clear with that.

[stephdon]

That's ok..
I have an update.. Nothing is changing!
I'm still getting new lesions daily.. I have 5 new ones on my hands, more on my legs and arms.. One is in a scratch I received from a piece of metal that had healed with just the faintest notice that a scratch was there and now I have a small red bump that I know will get big and nasty in just a few days..

Any ideas on how long it should it take antibiotics to start killing bacteria if that is what this is?
I have been on the Doxycycline since Dec 6th, and on the zythromax for 5 days, which I also had a large dose of 2000mg Zythromax at my first visit on Dec 4th..

Thanks for any help...

[ryn21]

You need to see a dermatologist.  If the doxy isnt working, you need a topical cream to make the rash go down.

[stephdon]

Update:
While awaiting a referral to a Dermatologist my lesions went away leaving scar tissue.
When I finally heard from a Derm Dr. they were gone so they didn't want to see me.. as of 01-10-07, I have a new lesion coming on in a previous lesion area.

Any ideas of what this skin ailment could be?  Does these lesions look familiar to anyone?
The Dr does not believe it is due to the cat scratch but perhaps something that evolved due to it, if that makes any sense!

Thanks,
Steph.

[jooejooe]

Yes, i got scratch by a cat also about a year or 11 months ago and i have these blister like bumbs that formed out of the scratch i got on my right arm, i pick the blister and it bleeds, but before it bleeds i can look very close and see little dots on the blister where the blood is flowing to the surface, i think our rashes are the same, because now its all over my right arm and under it and my left arm and i tried everyyyy thing, I got scratch on my left arm, no bumbs, on my right arm, bumbs, they are in a row and are bumbs blister like that are clustered together, some look like scares, well tell me if you find a answer!

[gacrusier]

I had a small bump on the side of my thumb it looked like I had gotten a splinter in it and it was festering up. After about 3 weeks ( it kept swelling bigger) I actually made a small cut in it hoping to release the puss. But there may have been 2 drops of puss and very little blood in it. It started to go down and now I have small bisters looking sores coming up on other places on my hands espically around the area that I thought was a splinter. I have also developed some pretty bad joint pains and leg pains. I can't hardly walk when I stand up. It's like I have to take a few steps to get started and it hurts !! Went to the doc and he seems to think maybe a staff infection ?? Has put me on 2 antiboitics and a steriod for 10 days. It does not seem to be helping at all !! Any suggestions ??
Frank Jackson