Possible non-joint related reactive arthritis

[jazzman19us]

Hello, I'm a 26 year old male, on February 14th of this year I had unprotected oral and vaginal sexual intercourse one time with a female. About a week and a half later I started having mild to moderate urinary symptoms; (painful urination mostly afterward all through the urethra, frequent urination, a slight discharge etc...). I went to the physician and he diagnosed me with urethritis and prescribed 1 gram of Zithromax and 10 days worth of Vibramycin and even an injection of Ricophen to clear out any gonoccual infection present. I still had urinary symptoms even though they weren't as bad and I did  urine and blood test for an STD all came out negative to see if the infection was completely out of my system. About a month later I started having chest pains, soreness and tender to touch the outer chest wall esp. in the left side of the chest area and breast bone (sternum) all the way down to my stomach and sometimes it felt so bad like I was having a cardic arrest; had a EKG done my heart rate was stable and was diagnosed with costochondritis. I also started to have early signs of eye pain; (buring,itchy,and watery in the eyes with no redness as of yet and no discharge, possible conjunctivitis) I was just curious if this is signs and symptoms of reactive arthritis a.k.a Reiter's syndrome from an earlier Chlamydia infection? I would love to get some insight and knowledge in this particular problem that I'm currently having hopefully get some questions answered. I have a doctor's appt tomorrow and I am hoping this is what I have because this issue is wearing me down mentally and physically. I haven't had sexual intercourse since the 14th of February. Did a lot of extensive research and this is what I came up with and all points to this disorder.

Thanks

P.S. I'm never having unprotected sex again unless I know for sure my partner is clean

[smittygirl]

I apologize, I thought I had answered your post last week.  It sounds exactly like ReA to me.  I happen to be a woman and the disease is more prevalent in men your age.  I was 46 when I got it, had a UTI that had E Coli bacteria in it, I also tested positive for the HLA-B27 gene.  I never had the eye problem but that is a classic sign of the disease.  If you haven't already, check out Mayo Clinic or Arthritis Foundations web sites.  In 2 out of 3 people the disease goes away once the infection is gone.  Unfortunately it is 4 years later and I still have it and also developed Ankoylosing Spondylitiis.   My ReA was so bad that I was in a wheelchair for 4 months.  I now take Enbrel to help control the AS which is now the dominant disease I have.  I am sorry you have gone thru this, I know all too well how you feel.  Please let me know how make out and take care.


Sue    

[billyqureshi]

i have to agere with sue, this is highe suggestvive of Reiters (now known as reactive arthritis). the course of the disease varies in everyone and it can spontaneously remit or it can be chronic causing intermittent flares. as sue mentioned 75% of patients will be HLA-B27 tissue type so you can have this checked to strengthen the diagnosis. the mainstay of treatment is eliminatino of the precipitating infection which in your case sounds like gonococcus, and then analgesics and steroids to control the arthritis.
sorry i cant be of more help but i fyou have any specific questions let me know.
billy
junior doc