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Joint Pain as a reaction to TB test

I have a host of medical problems - most significant are bilateral hip arthroplasty, knee trauma (ligaments and meniscus), a recently broken femur, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and a chronic infection in my body that started with my first hip replacement 20 years ago. I take daily oral anitbiotics (Doryx/doxycycline) and have IV antibiotics once or twice a year when it gets out of control. I recently had a TB test and I started having severe pain in my joints and arm. I am also feeling more fatigued than usual. My arm is aching so bad, and my femur was crushed a year ago and is still healing (poorly) and it is also aching incredibly. Nothing else has changed except the TB test. I haven't changed any of my meds in the last 2 weeks since I got the test. Can a person have a bad reaction to a TB test (they said the test was negative)? My immune system is a wreck, most drugs, especially antibiotics and morphine, cause me to have severe reactions. Could the tuberculosis test have caused a strain on my immune system and that is causing so much aching?

Thank you for your help.
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19989130 tn?1487969287
OK.. Registered Nurse here.. I'll be honest, I have the EXACT symptoms as some of you have described after I have a TB skin test. Within 15 minutes of the "bleb" being injected under my skin, I begin to get intense pain in my arm and joins. In addition I experience swelling in my arm and the joints become difficult to bend (particularly the elbow). With each TB test, the symptoms appear to become more severe. At first I thought it was nothing, but when I noticed my bracelet was even fitting smaller due to swelling, I KNEW something was not right. The last time I had the injection, the pain was so severe that it radiated up into my neck and I had difficulty turning my head. I was seen by Employee Health at the hospital where I work. I was told that I was having a reaction to the TB test, although they could not tell me why I was having the reaction. For those of you who are told you are imagining this.. You are not! Something is not right-If you ever feel that a medical treatment is unsafe, you always have the right to decline it.
Helpful - 1
2 Comments
Hi.. I had a tb test done at work.  I think the DON went too deep since a little bubble never came up and looked like a regular injection.  It was done on a Monday and by Wednesday when i woke it was red - irritated.  I went to the doctor and i had an allergic reaction and now have radiating pain up to my neck and my arm gets cold and hot.  At this point it is 14 days later and it hurts so bad they put me on flexeril and now they dont have any more answers for me.  What can I do?  Where do I need to go for help?
Similar situation here, but I don't know if it is due to the depth of the tuberculin injection in the skin.  I had it in October 2017 as a part of my nursing training course , and a day after I started suffering from an intense shoulder pain (same side). The pain disappeared a week after that. Some weeks later, I started feeling pain in my shins when I practice running. It has stayed to this day, I can say without exaggeration that my passion for jogging has taken a serious blow, although I thought for a long time that it was a simple periostitis, but no osteopath and no podiatrist could solve this problem.
A few months after the tuberculin injection, the shoulder pain has come back, but in the other shoulder, and one or two months later, I started feeling a joint pain in one of my knees. These were the first a long serie of joint pains going from a shoulder to another, and from a knee to another, through the elbow, wrist, and once through the little finger that was paralyzed with pain for a day or two.  

I started documenting all theses pains in 2019 - a little bit late in my opinion. These pains have exactly the same characteristics, and are like tendon or ligament inflammations within a joint. Sometimes I can feel the inflammation by touch. They are intense, inhibit movement, and wake me up at night. Painkillers in pomade or tablets work in more than half of the cases I would say.

And my last crisis has come as a terrible left knee pain the day before yesterday, and a right knee pain two weeks ago. Same pain, different place. When I felt it in my shoulder back in 2020, the doctor suspected calcifications but the X-ray showed nothing. I can not explain how tuberculin or dead bacteria injected in your skin can cause all these troubles, and without the upper comments, I wouldn't have made the link.
Avatar universal
I had a TB test 4 weeks ago. Within minutes (I’d say, less than 5 minutes) I had extreme burning in my elbow joint. Then my shoulder felt like it was on fire, then my wrist, then my neck, spine, hips, and within hours every joint in my body was inflamed. Fever was 100.6 that night. I felt soooo sick. The next day, the fever was gone, but the pain my left arm lingered. It felt like someone was shooting metal bb’s from a mini-gun under my skin up and down my arm. It’s been 4 weeks and the pain in my elbow and shoulder are still severe. That arms is also very sensitive to cold and I can’t leave it uncovered (must wear long sleeves.) Another symptom that seems random is extreme fatigue to the point of I-must-lay-down-and-close-my-eyes-now-or-I’ll-fall-asleep-standing-up…I know it’s not random…it started AFTER that evil TB injection. I’m now connecting the dots…which is why I’m looking for others w/similar experiences on the internet. Yes, it was a superficial injection, didn’t go deep, I saw the bleb, and it didn’t feel like it hit a nerve (I think my arm would’ve jumped or it would’ve hurt at the injection site.)
Please don’t let anyone gaslight you and say it’s not from the obvious foreign-matter that you just injected into your body. That tuberculosis protein has to go somewhere…it doesn’t “die off” at the injection site. Every body is different. Your DNA determines how well you methylate and dump toxins. There definitely needs to be unbiased 3rd party research into all of these adverse events…these firsthand accounts are very similar, it’s more than ironic…it shows a causal relationship.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I like the rest of you am suffering with severe knee pain. I took a physical just the day before the TB test and my knee was fine. The next day I took the TB test and a couple days later my knee started hurting so bad and swelled. I am using a cane now to get around and I am headed to the hospital to see what is going on. No one could tell me that this test does not react in certain people and cause joint pain. I believe this goes to the weakest part of your body and causes issues. This test should be stopped. I had a reaction to this TB test years ago, but could not remember what the reaction was until I took it again. I would never take another test like this again.
Helpful - 0
3 Comments
NeverAgainWillIDoThis. The only thing I can think of is you might have been allergic to something in the skin test. But why your knee alone would get it is beyond me. Sorry you went through that.
mkh9
By the time I went to the hosp I was unable to walk. The pain was so severe and my knee so swollen and my body aching that they placed me on prednisone and an anti inflammatory and did say it was the result of the TB test. My doctor said never again will you get that. I hold my grounds on that the test should not be given and injected into people.  
Yes it sounds like you had a anaphylactic allergic reaction to it. It is very rare to get that. There are other types of TB tests that are not the PPD tests. One is the quatiferon gold test. It is just a blood test and is more accurate. They should switch to this.
Take care,
mkh9
Avatar universal
I had a TB test about 5 weeks ago and have experienced pain in my elbow and the muscle in my forearm since then.  When injecting the fluid the nurse accidently injected too little so had to reinject fluid about an inch below the initial site.  I did not have a reaction at either site and the bumps quickly dissolved but the pain has not resolved itself yet, though I keep waiting... I can see how dead bacteria shouldn't cause a problem but it seems quite coincidental.   It is not debilitating pain, just annoying.  I am very active and have not had to make any changes to my routine or exercising.  I don't recall ever having had pain in this area prior to the test.  I have not heard any comments from anyone indicating if the pain ever resolved itself or how long it took.  Any updates on that question?
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
lonjea56,
It sounds like this person may have went too deep and hit a nerve or something? It is supposed to be very superficial so that it produces a bubble on top. Blood tests can sometimes cause pain for a month or so too. It shouldn't but sometimes they hit the wrong spot. It much be a nerve tissue or something. It should go away.
mkh9
Did you ever figure out what the problem was?  I have the same symptoms and have been waiting for my sore arm and elbow to clear up for about 5 weeks now.  I'll probably visit the doctor this week, but I can already hear him now doubting it was from the TB test.  Thanks for any feedback!
Avatar universal
Okay so I had a TB test done 6 months ago and immediately I had joint pain, my blood in my body was feeling hot plus I was very tired and irritated. Months later I'm still having joint pains here and there.
Helpful - 0
3 Comments
Ok I just had a TB skin test on Thurday May 12,2016. And today is Saturday May14,2016, and my Right leg is so sore I can not bend it. I have never had a problem with it. But I have recently been diagnosed w arthritis due to the chemotherapy I had to take in 2007 due to a brain tumor. Could this reaction in my leg be from the combo of arthritis and the TB test?????
Hi and so sorry you had a brain tumor. My husband's brother had one too. Is it gone?
Sorry the computer bleeped me off. So, no I think it is just the arthritis. A TB skin test won't interact like that.
Regards,
mkh9
Avatar universal
nope not yet.
nobody responds to private messages eithee
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
COMMUNITY LEADER
No, I haven't heard from them for quite a while.

Have you been tested for arthritis?
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi , have you had a chance to get a feedback update on other people who described similar aches.

i can not reach any of them.
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
COMMUNITY LEADER
I have read that you can get a bad allergy to the PPD skin test but that is it. I haven't seen anything on joint pain or hip problems. So, maybe you have reactive arthritis? You can talk to a doctor about that. It is usually caused by a bacteria getting into the joints. But it can also just be arthritis. You should get tested for this. Maybe there is some connection they don't know about that triggers the arthritis. But there is nothing that I can see in the literature about it.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there

Since you are the most active member, i wanted to try you as well.

Recently had TB skin test, and showing similar symptoms described in this thread.

Hip joint pain, knee joint pain, warm sensation at back

Any updates regarding this is appreciated
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there

Any update is well appreciated.
Having similar symptoms after TB skin test
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there, i hope you ll get well soon.
Any update is appreciated.

I guess i am going through similar problems

burning sensation at my back, hip joint paint,knee joint pain

Some are saying Vitamin C is helping
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there can you give an update on TB test post ?
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Avatar universal
did yours go away ? how have you treated it ?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a tb test this morning, 2 hours later all my joints ache! Any updates from anyone? Bothered me so bad I looked it up and found this thread!
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
COMMUNITY LEADER
No you don't have to friend me. just click on my initials and then it will take you to my page. His send message and it will open a window for you to write a message. I sent you one on your home page you can reply to that too.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
COMMUNITY LEADER
I think you have to friend me first.
mkh9
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Avatar universal
I don't know how to post a private message
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
COMMUNITY LEADER
Well, even if you got a  little phenol it is superficial for the skin test. I used to have to wash my hands in Phenol when I worked in TB . It never caused a problem for me. I know it can be linked to cancer. But that was 20 years ago. I am willing to listen to what your story is. I am saying what I know about the skin test and I don't think this is the cause of what is going on.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your response to my post.  My symptoms began 3 to 4 days after the PPD. A MRI ultimately showed a large herniated disk. I performed no activity that would have prompted this. I have never had the slightest twinge in my hips and never any lower back issues.
The neurosurgeon asked me 1) have you ever had any of these symptoms before (No), have you performed any recent activity or had a fall that could have prompted this (No) 3) have you had any recent injections ?
At that point my boyfriend and I nearly fell off our chairs with shock as we reported to him the PPD incident. There's more to the story that would be by private message only. I'm researching inflammatory responses in the annulus fibrosus of the spine. Tubersol contains phenol which is cell toxic.
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm sorry for all the things you have been going through. I hope you can recover and get better. Since your immune system is low you may have had a reaction to the skin test. Usually this is swelling and redness due to the skin test. Usually, the test would have been red at least. But nothing like what you are saying with the severe pain in the joints and arm. You could have reactive arthritis. This would be from bacteria from an infection you had or have getting into the blood stream and into the joints. The PPD test uses dead bacteria. It is only a purified protein derivative. So, it is more likely that you have that since you have had other infections. You may have to have the joints aspirated to see if you have bacteria in the joint. Then be treated for that.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
COMMUNITY LEADER
I don't know if you are having some kind of allergy to the skin test perhaps? You cannot get TB from the PPD test. It is dead bacteria. The skin test is supposed to be injected at the very surface of the skin not deep. When they inject the 0.1 ml of PPD fluid it should cause a little bubble or bleb under the skin. That is how superficial it should be. So if she was injecting this deep into the skin she didn't know what she was doing or she was injection something else. But either way she went through the vein and sounds like she wasn't good at what she was doing. I am a licensed microbiologist and have given them myself.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I work in a hospital and must get a PPD every year. This year the nurse injected right through my vein. Hurt more than ever and I had a large bruise. Five days later my hip inflammation started. I have been laid up for 10 days now . Also having pain down left femur.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Has anyone's joint pain resolved after the tb test?

I had a 2 step tb test done for school. The second one was done 7 days after the first one.  I had some eye twitching shortly after the first injection that resolved in couple days.  Then I had the second injection 3 days ago. Again, the eye twitching returns that night with a stiff neck,  dry, red throat, and mild stomach discomfort.  Has anyone had that experience?  I feel those are side affects.  I had the same test done few items before with no problem.  Will these resolve?
Helpful - 0
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