Positive strep but no strep throat - severe arthritic symptoms

Did you get any answers? My daughter is going through the same thing and nothing has helped. Chest pains are getting worse. I read that it can take. Up to a year foe it to get out of your system...

Hi there - we still are not to the bottom of it although fortunately I am over the worse of the chest pain. I actually ended up going back to the docs as the chest pain became worse. They did begin treating for rheumatic fever and I was given prednisone and a shot of penicillin but as it is rare in adults they made a 'suspected diagnosis' and wanted me to see a Rheum immediately. They also re-ran blood tests. ASO level was still rising however subsequent doctors have told me it is not specific to strep and may suggest another infection which is why it is important to have this looked into further. My second blood tests showed very elevated liver enzymes so I am glad I went back to the first doctor.

I also ended up with a multitude of other symptoms including numb blue numb feet and my hair started falling out, a croup like cough and enlarged lymph nodes and unexplained bruising (to name but a few)! On reflection I have had some of these symptoms for several months apart from the joint and chest pain.

I have now been ill for over 5 weeks which is unheard of for me and the odd thing was how quickly the symptoms would come and go.I also started to take electrolyte drinks and cut down on my fluid intake as I found drinking too much tended to spark a flare - however as my liver was implicated in some way this may have been because of that.

I was referred to a Rheumatologist - who ran panels for auto immune. Despite the steroids - my ASO was still rising although liver enzymes had come down a little. I had an echocadriogram and a multitude of other tests which again were all clear. They have now passed me to an infectious disease specialist to see if there is an infection or if it is indeed an auto-immune which the blood tests aren't showing right now.

I have been told doctors are not very keen to diagnose rheumatic fever in adults so they are now looking at another infection/virus or auto immune. I hear auto immune can be very difficult to diagnose. I am also seeing a dermatologist for some of the skin problems I have been having during this.

I really sympathize with your daughter - it was a very scary time for me and the fact I am still not better makes me realize this may not be something to be ignored. I will let you know if I have any luck with the infectious disease specialist. I do know if it is Rheumatic fever long term course of antibiotics may be required so it really would be worth pursuing this further in your daughters case to rule out other types of infection first. Let me know if you manage to get to the bottom of this and my best wishes to your daughter.

The symptoms you describe are also symptoms of Lyme Disease (and some Lyme Suffers from my research today can have chronic strep). Please contact www.NatCapLyme.org for a lyme literate doctor in your area. There is a huge controversy in the lyme world now so you will want to talk with her. contact me for more info if you wish. Tests are not very accurate. need a knowledgeable person to diagnose you.

Hi There- I am researching into some extreme body pain I experienced this last week. I have never been in so much pain. Most of my joints hurt and my muscles were weak. I felt very run down and tired. I would say my pain level was about an 8 out of 10. The worst was in my back ( lower and between the shoulders) knees and hands. At the worst time, my ankles, wrists and neck hurt as well. I had no cold symptoms and no fever. I voice was slightly gone(sort of raspy). This lasted for about 4 days. I then saw a Chiropractor who thought I had a strep infection. I have been taking a high dose immune supplement which seems to have taken the pain away. I am wondering if something more sinister is just lying low at the moment. I was greatly relieved to find your post! I have been having a hard time finding any connection to extreme body pain and strep. Have you had any more advances or information concerning your illness?

The same thing happened to me when I was about 32 yrs old and I am 42 now. I had a bad case of strep throat (that I was not aware). I thought I had a simple cold and waited about 2 or 2 1/2 weeks to go to the doctor. The day I finally went, I got up out of bed and had severe joint pain, that I fell off of me bed onto the floor and couldn't get back up. . . The doctor said that I had a strep throat infection that had passed to my bloodstream and started affecting my joints. Because of that, I developed a form of "temporary" Rheumatoid Arthritis that would take at least 12 months to go away. I was treated for the strep throat & took Celebrex and was seeing an arthritis specialist until it finally went away. . . I now have slight, permanent joint damage and need to take a daily supplement of Glusamine for joint mobility. If I do not take this supplement, my joints start popping and making noise. You need to stay on top of this so it doesn't get worse. God Bless.