As it turned out, Levaquin caused more than an aching lower leg. Because the drug caused Sara to become practically immobile, her respiratory problems became worse and it even cost her relationship with her fiancé..."At first I didn't think much of the pain in my leg because my whole body ached from the fever I had," said Sara, "but once the fever broke I still had severe pain in my feet and lower calves. Ironically I had an appointment set up with my foot surgeon, Dr. Adamo, who did my bunion surgery last year.
"I continued on the Levaquin and finished it Thursday. On Friday I could barely walk. As I stepped down from my apartment, I could see, feel, and hear a pop in the back of my leg and blinding pain, like I never felt before. 'Sara, what have you been doing?' Dr. Adamo asked. As soon as I mentioned Levaquin he said, 'Didn't you read the insert?'
"He told me that I have severe bilateral Achilles tendonitis, Levaquin is to blame, and health experts are trying to get this drug off the market. I couldn't believe it! I was absolutely furious. I'm a nurse and the last dose I took, I got hot and flushed; my heart rate went up and I knew then that I was having an allergic reaction to this drug. But causing this, the inability to walk? A lot of reactions can occur from antibiotics, but I'd never heard of this.
"Dr. Adamo told me to discontinue any kind of physical activity, put my feet up, and wrap them in ice or heat, whatever felt better. He gave me a prescription for painkillers and come back for a follow-up in a few weeks or sooner if I was getting worse.
"I didn't make it back to his office. Instead I wound up in hospital due to my lungs. Dr. Adamo ordered an MRI, which showed a complete tear on my right leg tendon. Then I had an MRI on my other leg and that showed a partial tear of the tendon. It also showed a hole in the heel itself. They gave me prednisone and said my respiratory problem was not life-threatening but I won't be able to walk. I wore a cam-walker, a very rigid boot from tips of my toes to below the knee, to stabilize the foot and decrease some of the pain. My left foot was ace-bandaged.
"They wanted to operate on the torn tendon but were afraid the surgery could also take my life because of my lungs. And I also had a prior blood clot in that leg. So they prepped me for two weeks with blood thinners and antibiotics. Finally I had the surgery.
"Prior to surgery, I was taught how to walk with this 5-lb boot. I'm a small person and it was hard; basically you have to support your own weight on the handles of a walker and hop on the opposite side. But my other foot wasn't that good either. They continued to work with me in occupational therapy and rehab—three hours a day pre and prior surgery. For eight weeks, just getting myself to the bathroom was impossible—all because of Levaquin.
"I got out of hospital last November and had the cast removed. Dr. Adamo put me back in the cam-boot and told me that I could put 80 percent of my weight on it (although that's hard to figure out). I stayed out of hospital for seven weeks but got another respiratory infection because I was basically sofa-bound—back in hospital.
"They said I didn't have problems earlier with my lungs because I was moving around. When anyone lies around a lot, pneumonia often happens. I've had pneumonia three times since this happened due to immobility.
READ MORE LEVAQUIN LEGAL NEWS
"And it gets worse. I have a nasty scar and bruising that looks like it will never go away; constant swelling in both feet from these injuries. And this cost me a relationship—I was engaged and my fiancé said it was too much, having porta-potties and everything else in a one-bedroom apartment. I moved in with my brother.
"'You should go after the makers of Levaquin because you don't know the future,' my friends tell me. I'm going to take their advice."
READER COMMENTS
heidi
on
my story..
in november 2004 i was an active energetic pain free..dance the night away in high heels, walk miles non stop....run up and down stairs like a feather ...
and then....
in december 2004 i got bronchitis.
doc gave me zpack but on recheck a week later.
he said i had pneumonia and gave me levaquin.
well the pneumonia cleared up but all of sudden
i started to feel pain in my knees and legs.
it got progressively worse and worse.
i got lower shoes and standing up and still was unbearable.
suddenly..overnite i went from active pain free to
unable to walk , stand ..without excruciating pain.
i couldnt squat at all..
my ligaments tendons felt as if they were being shredded. and so i rested...and rested...and rested.
changed shoes ..
to sneakers now..
pain continued...excruciatingly.
and then the journey to ortho docs, rheumatoligists etc began...
mri showed nothing.
i had months of physical therapy.
no help.
to put my foot on the gas pedal was like a knife shooting up my leg.
to stand up out of a car...so painful.
nothing helped.
nothing.
so ive suffered with pain all of these years.
unrelenting pain.
no improvement..
accupuncture would help take the edge off of it..but nothing significant.
then five years after i took the poison a friend saw a legal ad regarding levaquin and told me about it and bingo..
that was the missing piece of the puzzle.and the
connecting of the dots.
i have resigned myself to my new life..
and it is very sad..to have your life completely changed in an instant by a drug.
people who dont have the chronic pain and the limitations it causes dont get it...
no one can ever imagine how much pain we suffer unless they have it.
one friend gets levaquin every six months for routine
cystocopy and he has no obvious issues and therefore.
he thinks my claims are somewhat illegitimate.
but i know it is real.
my family knows its real.
they saw the change in me.
my high heel dancing days..walking miles ..are over.
now all i do is look for a chair to sit down.
i hope i dont end up needing two knee replacements as a result of this..
everywhere i go..i see people ...all ages...walkers, canes, limping , hobbling..knee replacements are epidemic..
and i cant help but believe alot of this is as a result of levaquin and many of those affected people dont even know it..
this drug is given out like candy by docs and hospitals.
for me the damage is permenant and its done.
im glad to have others who understand my situation..who believe it...and have empathy ...
thank you..
Bruce Miller
on
Why is this drug on the market? I have read the other comments and NOBODY is exaggerating. I am so angry, I have no words.
Eliza
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Deb george
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Jackie
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Teresa
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By Day 2, I could feel a profound difference in my hips, legs, and feet. (They have never bothered me).
I attributed it to my pnemonia...and continued to take my prescribed med. By Day 4, walking was excruciating. I looked up "joint pain and Levaquin" online.
This scared me. Symptoms were undeniable. I talked with my Doc's nurse - Motrin was advised for pain. I just finished Day 10 and I am walking but it is so painful. Is Levaquin to blame...undoubtedly. I have NEVER had any of these issues prior to the drug. I am just praying they go away after this is out of my body. Would I take it again? No way. Not sure my pnemonia is gone / still coughing. I think it went to my legs instead of my lungs. I am a very healthy and active 46 year old. The pain is very concerning.
Donna
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Carol
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andi dettore
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Chrissy
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Joann Fiske
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Laraine
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It's been a year and a half now and I'm still in severe pain. I had to have knee surgery last month because of this stupid antibiotic and now I'm probably going to have to have surgery on my achilles tendon for a partial tear in it. I'm 53 and I work in the preschool room at the school. No more sitting on the floor or kneeling for me.
The severe pain is very depressing. I can't work in my garden anymore or do anything I used to. I've gained a lot of weight because I can't go for walks. I'm in therapy for my knee, but the therapist spends a lot of time trying to get my calves to quit hurting. Nothing is working. I sure hope they get this medicine off the market.
Deb
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This was 51/2 years ago. Since then I have had tendon surgeries in ankle and shoulder....now I can barely walk due to extreme knee pain. Waiting for a MRI.
This drug has ruined my life. I live in my recliner or bed. Barely no one gets it. I feel like I have been poisoned.
Martha
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My mom is 73 yrs old and is in better shape then I am. Now.
Terry Gassner
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bonanza
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Jen
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Jodi in NY
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jim quimby
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Mark
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dave
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