|
|
|
Ask Dr. Kaiser Question: Is there any data on the HIV virus causing pain in joints?I was diagnosed with AIDS in 1998 when I landed in the hospital with PCP. I am a 40 yr old married female, 5'3" 140 lbs. Currently my t-cells are 800 and VL is 17. My current regimen is Combivir plus Viramune which I have been on for a few years now. Is it normal to have aching joints from the virus? In 8/01 I went from PT work to full-time and noticed excessive leg aches. I thought it was due to working full-time. It progressed into extreme pain and by 1/02 after ruling out rheumatoid arthritis, I had an MRI done and it showed that I had bilateral infarcts-a total of 3 and the biggest 13mm. I also had a normal bone density test. After going off my meds for 6-8 weeks, my CD4 cells went down to 237. I cannot ride a bicycle for over 2 blocks without my legs hurting and when I am on my legs for 8 hours I have to take a couple days to recoup. I stay hydrated, take Coral Calcium and eat very well--no drugs. I see my MD regularly, but I just cannot seem to get any kind of answer on my painful legs. Any advice? Dr. Kaiser replies: Your situation reminds me of what one of my patients went through before she consulted with me a few years ago. She also had extremely painful legs even though she was only taking D4T and 3TC as her antiviral meds. The most important thing that she did to reverse this situation was to start on my antioxidant vitamin packets 2x/day. Since your weight is below 145 lbs, I would suggest that you take one single strength packet 3x/day to start (with meals). Then you could cut back to 2x/day after your symptoms improved. The only additional nutrient you would need to take would be extra Calcium 600 mg/day. The highly potent antioxidants in my packets include alpha lipoic acid, acetyl L-Carnitine, and N-acetyl Cysteine. These nutrients help every cell of your body produce more energy and become stronger. If after one month of taking the packets you do not notice significant improvement you might consider trying the following: 1) Add L-glutamine 5 grams 2-3x/day (mix the powder in juice) 2) Get your free testosterone level checked and supplement testosterone if it is not in the upper half of the normal range 3) Consider switching off of Combivir to a different antiviral medication since the AZT in Combivir is often associated with muscle toxicity. However, I would start with the vitamin packets since they may cure your problem within a short period of time at 3 Single-Strength packets per day. Then, you can add the other measures in the order suggested. Consult your doctor before making any changes in your medications. Good luck and thanks for your question. Check out our Message Board! |
Search E-newsletter and Ask Dr. Kaiser archives: Ask
Dr. Kaiser
The e-newsletter is filled with useful information on treating immune system conditions.
|
|
About Integrative Health Consulting, Inc. Disclaimer: None of the information listed on this site is meant to provide diagnosis or treatment of a medical condition. If you are experiencing any symptoms of ill health please contact a licensed medical doctor to diagnose, treat, and address your medical needs. Integrative
Health Consulting, Inc., 655 Redwood Highway, Suite
#225, Mill Valley, CA 94941, |
