chondrocalcinosis

[Guest guest]

I just turned 50 years old. I was diagnosed Poz in 1986. I have been thru it all since then. However, in the past few years I have developed a little diagnosed form of arthritis known as chondrocalcinosis, which consists of calcium deposits forming around the joints in my hands. It started around three years ago and has recently increased in intensity. I am afraid if it continues to progress my hands with soon be immoble. My rheumatoid arthritis doc at the University of Wisconsin Hospital & clinics says there is not treatment specifically for this condition. She put me on an old anti-malarial drug for the pain & inflamation; which immediately made the pain & inflamation worse and caused red spots & blisters to form on the insides of my hands. I can barely type this email.

Anyone have experience with this disease? Is it a condition brought on by my meds.....reyataz, viread, norvir, epzicom, acyclovir, provostatin, wellbutron?? I typically find that when a doctor says "we dont' know much about this" it really means that "She/He" doesn't know much about it including it's cause, treatment, and whether it can be a side effect of my intense HAART. Back in 1996 when I started on hand fulls of norvir monotherapy and my hips began to deteriorate due to the ravages of avascular necrosis the UW Medical community was also uncertain of the cause of my having to have two full hip replacements at age 41. It was soon discovered in MY reading that norvir & crixivan were causing this condition in about 5-10% of all users. Excuse me if I don't place full trust in my doctors for being up to date on all HAART related conditions and treatment adjustments.

Anyone have any info or similar experience for me?

Mike in Madison