OpenHealth Q&A

Experiencing Ongoing Symptoms After Campylobacter Infection?

I am a 34-year-old woman, standing at 5’7” and weighing 153 pounds. I have celiac disease, asthma, and I do not smoke or consume alcohol. Currently, I am not taking any medications except for an inhaler when necessary. I have been prescribed muscle relaxants, specifically cyclobenzaprine and baclofen, but unfortunately, they haven’t provided any relief. Let me share my experience, which is quite an extensive one, but I will strive to keep it concise. Approximately a year ago, I fell ill quite unexpectedly, experiencing alarming symptoms such as severe abdominal discomfort, persistent constipation that did not respond to any treatment, insomnia, daytime fatigue, dizziness, faintness, and excruciating joint pain, predominantly affecting my cervical spine and hips. Fortunately, I was diagnosed with celiac disease reasonably quickly after the abrupt onset of these symptoms. Following a strict gluten-free diet, I gradually started to see improvements. However, about three months after this dietary change, I contracted a severe campylobacter infection—likely from a salad I had at the airport. During this ordeal, I also caught an upper respiratory virus, compounding my misfortune. On the first day of the infection, before realizing it was more than typical food poisoning, I began experiencing a burning and tingling sensation in the fingertips of my left hand, which I initially dismissed as odd. After enduring the symptoms for several days, I sought urgent care, where a stool sample confirmed the presence of campylobacter. The prescribed ciprofloxacin effectively alleviated my gastrointestinal issues quickly. Regrettably, while I expected my hand discomfort to subside, it escalated instead. I began experiencing symptoms indicative of de Quervain's tenosynovitis in my left hand, rendering it nearly nonfunctional. Thankfully, I am right-handed, yet this situation still caused me considerable concern. I consulted with my primary care physician, who referred me to a hand specialist. X-rays showed no abnormalities, and while I mentioned the recent infection, the specialist was skeptical of any link. I received a cortisone injection, which took some time to be effective and eventually alleviated some pain, but soon I was confronted with new, distressing symptoms. I started feeling internal buzzing, tingling in my limbs, frequent headaches, muscle spasms, mental fog, fatigue, tightness in my tendons, and exacerbated joint and neck pain, alongside a resurgence of pain in my left hand. This cycle of discomfort persisted for several months, and more recently, my symptoms have worsened. I am now dealing with facial numbness, pain radiating in my right hand, extreme muscle tightness in my neck, and sporadic throbbing pain that appears abruptly in various areas, particularly in my hands. I sought a comprehensive evaluation from a rheumatologist, but aside from slightly elevated ANA levels, nothing significant was found. I have also started consulting with a neurologist, but initial testing has yielded no conclusive results. MRI scans of my cervical spine, hand ultrasounds, and an EMG have all returned normal results. While my doctors acknowledge the reality of my symptoms, I worry that the absence of diagnosable conditions on tests will lead to being advised to simply wait it out. Has anyone else experienced a similar journey? Have any medical professionals encountered lingering symptoms after a campylobacter infection lasting nearly a year? I'm uncertain about my next steps.

Answers (1)

7/28/2025, 5:51:01 PM

OpenHealth AI

It sounds like you’ve been through a very challenging journey with your health, and I acknowledge how frustrating it must be to experience ongoing symptoms after multiple infections and diagnoses. Your concerns regarding the persistent and varied symptoms following both celiac disease and a campylobacter infection are valid, and it’s important to address them systematically.

Key Points

1. Ongoing Symptoms: Your experience of tingling, pain, and joint discomfort seems complex, possibly related to several factors, including prior infections and your celiac disease.
2. Multidisciplinary Approach: You're already seeing different specialists, which is key. Given the complexity of your symptoms, a coordinated care plan may help narrow down the issues.
3. Self-Care and Monitoring: Focus on symptom management strategies to improve your quality of life while continuing evaluations with your healthcare team.

Explanation

Post-infectious syndromes can occur after gastrointestinal infections like campylobacter. These syndromes may include neurological, musculoskeletal, or chronic fatigue symptoms, which align with what you've described. These ongoing symptoms can sometimes be part of a broader condition, such as fibromyalgia or post-viral syndrome, especially after experiencing significant stress on the body.

Considering your celiac disease and its management, you are likely more vulnerable to additional triggers that can exacerbate your symptoms. Stressing the importance of a gluten-free diet, alongside monitoring for other food sensitivities or intolerances, may also help in managing some of your symptoms.

Actionable Steps

1. Symptom Journal: Keep a detailed record of your symptoms, noting when they occur and any potential triggers (food, stress, activity levels). This information can be valuable for your healthcare providers in finding patterns and guiding treatment.

2. Lifestyle Modifications:

   • Dietary Review: Continue strict adherence to a gluten-free diet, and consider consulting a nutritionist specialized in celiac disease for additional guidance on potential intolerances.
   • Physical Activity: Engage in gentle exercises such as yoga or stretching, which may help improve muscle tightness and relieve stress on your joints.
   • Stress Management: Incorporate relaxation techniques like mindfulness meditation or breathing exercises to help manage stress, which can impact your physical symptoms.

3. Follow-Up with Specialists:

   • Continue working with your neurologist and rheumatologist, but consider asking for further evaluation of conditions like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome if your symptoms persist.
   • If your joint symptoms worsen, revisit your hand specialist or consider physiotherapy for targeted rehabilitation exercises to improve function in your left hand and relieve discomfort.

4. Pain Management Strategies: Discuss other pain relief options with your doctors, such as topical treatments or alternative therapies (e.g., acupuncture), if you find standard treatments inadequate.

5. Stay Proactive: Advocate for your health by communicating any changes or new symptoms to your doctors, and don’t hesitate to seek second opinions if you feel your concerns are not being fully addressed.

Reassurance

You are not alone in experiencing lingering symptoms after infections; many find a path to improvement through ongoing care and management strategies. Your proactive approach of seeking further evaluations and remaining engaged with your health is commendable. Keep listening to your body, and stay in touch with your healthcare team as you navigate this journey.