OnAlaska, WAMary has been taking Cipro "on and off" since 1991. Because of her chronic medical history she has been confined to a wheelchair but she had carpal tunnel surgery four years ago, was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and had surgery near her Achilles tendon. How could those injuries happen—she has been disabled for years…
"Because of my chronic medical history it was necessary that I took Cipro, specifically prescribed for MRSA—a staph infection that can be a killer," says Mary. "In 1991 I had a disc removed in hospital and got it right after surgery and I've been taking Cipro on and off ever since." (Mary was one of the first patients to be diagnosed with MRSA and as a consequence the state of California closed down the hospital that treated her, but that is another story.)
"Whenever I get outbreaks of MRSA, I take it again, and Levaquin," says Mary. Now she is totally disabled and lives on social security disability. "I had carpal tunnel surgery four years ago—the doctor couldn't figure out why I had carpal tunnel syndrome because I didn't do any physical work. On top of that I have a torn rotator cuff in my shoulder; again, we don't know why. It happened when I was on a plane trip; I just tried to change position in my seat and the next thing I knew, I had an extremely sharp pain in my shoulder and had to hold my arm at my side for the duration of the trip. And it is still a problem today, years later. They can't do surgery because I have so many other health problems so now I just have to live with this pain.
I can't do any housework and my husband has to help me dress; I can't even hold a cup with one hand. Same goes with a knife and fork; it's like I have no strength in my hands and the pain is so bad that for the last three years I have been taking morphine every day for pain. It's not like I have done any repetitive movements to justify carpal tunnel or my other joint and tendon problems: In 1999 I had to have pins put in my Achilles tendon area. Again, they cannot find anything pertinent to explain why this happened.
I have had an ulcerated colitis since 1991 and was treated with steroids. I didn't know these drugs eat away at your spine; that is why from my waist down I have no spine left and that is why I am permanently in a wheelchair. But that wouldn't explain my joint and tendon problems: that is another reason why I think Cipro is to blame.
I just found out about Cipro side effects a few weeks ago. I was on your website and happened to see a Cipro lawsuit so right away I wondered if this drug was causing all my problems. My doctors can't explain it so how could I? I was shocked; you trust the doctors to know what you are taking. And it couldn't have been because of the steroids—I haven't taken those since 1991. I wrote to your lawyer telling them my symptoms and they sent my some forms to complete. Just last night I read some of your interviews about Cipro and found out how many other people are suffering, same as me.
But life goes on. I figure if I have two lips to smile and a good family, my goal in life is to keep going and try to help others—in this case, I hope I can warn others not to take Cipro."