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Joint problems based on STD infection?
Hello,
Around two years ago I got an urinary tract infection after having sex. It took around 4 days to get some symptoms so I went to a GP and I was screened for virtually everything including Chlamydia... all results were negative and I got some broadband antibiotics. Symptoms went away within a few days.
About 6 weeks later I woke up and the joints of my fingers were stiff, I had sore eyes including problems to focus on objects, and some kind of deep dull pain in my testicles. I got kind of tiny changes in my skin structure at the joints that were not painful hard to see and hardly itchy. I went to a GP... everything was retested: All negative. I asked if Reiter Syndrom might be possible and I was tested for Rheuma factor that was negative and HLA-B27 was negative as well. An ultrasound of my testicles was done by a urologist: all normal...
Over the months the symptoms became less. Then Symptoms came back but much less than before. They went away,came back, every 4-5 months maybe. I found over the time that the Symptoms can be triggered by sport if I go very much to the limits of my body.
Semen checks brought up the following results: In the past (before infection) I got semen checked for IVF and the doctor's comment was 'bull sperm' what means everything was ok ;-) after the infection I got a check and they found antibodies attached to my sperms. A more recent test found, interestingly, no antibodies anymore, but the amount of distorted sperms was about 99.9% what is probably not very good.
So this is more or less all I can contribute with respect to my medical history. The only thing I found that was somehow matching was Chlamydia and Reiter but I have been tested now at least 4-5 times for Chlamydia and it was always negative. Is there the possibility that the tests are not sensitive enough to detect an old infection with Chlamydia?
Thanks
Around two years ago I got an urinary tract infection after having sex. It took around 4 days to get some symptoms so I went to a GP and I was screened for virtually everything including Chlamydia... all results were negative and I got some broadband antibiotics. Symptoms went away within a few days.
About 6 weeks later I woke up and the joints of my fingers were stiff, I had sore eyes including problems to focus on objects, and some kind of deep dull pain in my testicles. I got kind of tiny changes in my skin structure at the joints that were not painful hard to see and hardly itchy. I went to a GP... everything was retested: All negative. I asked if Reiter Syndrom might be possible and I was tested for Rheuma factor that was negative and HLA-B27 was negative as well. An ultrasound of my testicles was done by a urologist: all normal...
Over the months the symptoms became less. Then Symptoms came back but much less than before. They went away,came back, every 4-5 months maybe. I found over the time that the Symptoms can be triggered by sport if I go very much to the limits of my body.
Semen checks brought up the following results: In the past (before infection) I got semen checked for IVF and the doctor's comment was 'bull sperm' what means everything was ok ;-) after the infection I got a check and they found antibodies attached to my sperms. A more recent test found, interestingly, no antibodies anymore, but the amount of distorted sperms was about 99.9% what is probably not very good.
So this is more or less all I can contribute with respect to my medical history. The only thing I found that was somehow matching was Chlamydia and Reiter but I have been tested now at least 4-5 times for Chlamydia and it was always negative. Is there the possibility that the tests are not sensitive enough to detect an old infection with Chlamydia?
Thanks
No worries,
as I wrote I am not suffering a lot and symptoms come only from time to time. I might follow you advise and seek a rheumatologist for a consultation.
The historical info was indeed very interesting. Thanks for that.
Cheers
as I wrote I am not suffering a lot and symptoms come only from time to time. I might follow you advise and seek a rheumatologist for a consultation.
The historical info was indeed very interesting. Thanks for that.
Cheers
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. Unfortunately, I doubt I can help much. STD specialists don't typically manage reactive arthritis and related conditions, even if triggered by STDs. But I don't think that's what you have anyway.
FYI, the correct term is no longer Reiter's syndrome, but reactive arthritis. Hans Reiter was a war criminal and his name is no longer honored. More details below.
The initial onset of your problems is consistent with reactive arthritis, which is commonly associated with nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) -- both chlamydial and nonchlamydial. However, as you apparently already know, it is less likely in people who are negative for HLA B27. Also, RA is not usually associated with small joint arthritis of the hands, fingers, etc; the spine and large joints (knees, ankles, etc) are more typically involved. And I have never come across anything like testicular pain as part of the syndome.
Semen analysis is not part of any routine STD evaluation, and I don't know how to interpret the results you describe.
As for having chlamydia, it is unlikely at this point in time. You don't say what "broadband" antibiotics were used for your initial NGU, but most likely they would have eradicated chlamydia if it were there and missed by the intitial lab tests. In any case, persistent chlamydial infection is never the cause of the symptoms you describe -- whether caused by reactive arthritis or something else.
As implied above, most of this is outside the realm of STD experts. If we had a patient with your symptoms in my STD clinic, we would refer him or her to a rheumatologist (arthritis expert). If you are not under the care of such a specialist, that would be a logical next step. But there is no reason to suspect any continuing STD problem, even if an STD like NGU triggered the problem.
Back to the name of the syndrome: Hans Reiter was among several physicians who described arthritis, NGU, and often conjunctivitis (eye inflammation), and his name stuck to the syndrome. In the 1930s he was among the first prominent German physicians to join the Nazi party. Eventually he directed horrific human medical "research" in concentration camps, including experiments killed the subjects. He escaped prosecution as a war criminal at Nuremburg on a technicality and successfully restored his name. His history came to light in the latter part of the 20th century, and he is no longered honored with the syndrome that once bore his name. Hence reactive arthritis, no longer Reiter's syndrome.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help in your diagnosis. But perhaps the historical note is of interest.
Regards-- HHH, MD
FYI, the correct term is no longer Reiter's syndrome, but reactive arthritis. Hans Reiter was a war criminal and his name is no longer honored. More details below.
The initial onset of your problems is consistent with reactive arthritis, which is commonly associated with nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) -- both chlamydial and nonchlamydial. However, as you apparently already know, it is less likely in people who are negative for HLA B27. Also, RA is not usually associated with small joint arthritis of the hands, fingers, etc; the spine and large joints (knees, ankles, etc) are more typically involved. And I have never come across anything like testicular pain as part of the syndome.
Semen analysis is not part of any routine STD evaluation, and I don't know how to interpret the results you describe.
As for having chlamydia, it is unlikely at this point in time. You don't say what "broadband" antibiotics were used for your initial NGU, but most likely they would have eradicated chlamydia if it were there and missed by the intitial lab tests. In any case, persistent chlamydial infection is never the cause of the symptoms you describe -- whether caused by reactive arthritis or something else.
As implied above, most of this is outside the realm of STD experts. If we had a patient with your symptoms in my STD clinic, we would refer him or her to a rheumatologist (arthritis expert). If you are not under the care of such a specialist, that would be a logical next step. But there is no reason to suspect any continuing STD problem, even if an STD like NGU triggered the problem.
Back to the name of the syndrome: Hans Reiter was among several physicians who described arthritis, NGU, and often conjunctivitis (eye inflammation), and his name stuck to the syndrome. In the 1930s he was among the first prominent German physicians to join the Nazi party. Eventually he directed horrific human medical "research" in concentration camps, including experiments killed the subjects. He escaped prosecution as a war criminal at Nuremburg on a technicality and successfully restored his name. His history came to light in the latter part of the 20th century, and he is no longered honored with the syndrome that once bore his name. Hence reactive arthritis, no longer Reiter's syndrome.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help in your diagnosis. But perhaps the historical note is of interest.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
