Q. My doctor prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection. Since then I have suffered from severe tendinitis. My shoulders and my Achilles tendon are extremely painful and I can no longer run or play tennis. I can’t even pick up my little daughter.
The doctor has injected cortisone, but that only worked for a while. Ibuprofen upsets my stomach. I am desperate for relief. Is there anything I can take to ease the pain?
A. The FDA has issued a warning about tendinitis and tendon rupture with antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin) and moxifloxacin (Avelox). Injecting a corticosteroid (such as cortisone) may seem like a solution for tendinitis but a new study suggests that any relief is short lived (Lancet, online, Oct. 22, 2010). Oral prednisone might actually increase your risk for tendon rupture.
Since you cannot tolerate NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen, we are sending you our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis. It contains a range of options from topical capsaicin and NSAIDs like Voltaren Gel to anti-inflammatory herbs such as boswellia, bromelain, ginger or turmeric.
