One reason for joint ain

[Guest guest]

Hey Deb,

I also meant to comment on the joint pain. Yes, Cipro can cause pain,

especially leg pain. Quinolone antibiotics, such as Cipro, can cause

tendon weakening and rupture. There have been cases reported in which

achilles tendon rupture occured months after using Cipro because the

tendon was weakend by the antibiotic.

I remember the first time a friend of mine gave Cipro to her daughter

(with CF). This was maybe 1999, so she would have been around 12 years

old.

Her legs hurt so bad that she'd cry in pain; she couldn't walk -- they

had to carry her to the bathroom (she was a tiny girl then and is tiny

teen now -- but then, her parents are both quite small too!). They'd

give her Tylenol 'round the clock but it didn't help.

If there is joint/bone pain and you're not using a quinolone

antibiotic, please be sure they're getting enough magnesium in their

diets. This is so crucial, Deb.

Magnesium is necessary for keeping calcium IN the teeth and bones

where most of it belongs. When you're low on magnesium, then calcium

leaches out of teeth and bones and deposits in joints and tissues,

causing arthritic pain.

I believe the reason we're seeing a rise in " CF-related diabetes " and

" CF-related arthritis " is because many (many, many!) of the meds we

take deplete the body of magnesium.

Additionally, our soils are now so depleted of minerals that our

foods are inferior. And if you have a water softener in your house,

then you're not getting minerals in your drinking water -- all the

minerals have been removed to make the water soft.

Aside from the cellular importance of magnesium (regulates ATP, cell

signaling, etc.,) magnesium is crucial for regulating glucose and

maintaining calcium in bone.

Muscle cramps are a sign of magnesium deficiency. Calcium and

magnesium work together so you need a balance. Calcium contracts the

muscle, magnesium relaxes muscle. You can drink milk until the cows

come home, but if you're not getting enough magnesium then all that

calcium in dairy products is just wasted.

If you or family members have digestive and malabsorption problems,

severe menstrual cramps, migraine or vascular headaches, asthma, heart

disease, hypertension, diabetes -- then you need to increase your

magnesium.

Most magnesium sold today is magnesium oxide. Look at your

multivitamin/mineral label. If it's magnesium oxide don't count on it

working well; magnesium oxide is the least bioavailable form of all

magnesiums.

You have to be careful to get the right type. Some magnesium are

magnesium salts, such as magnesium gluconate and magnesium citrate,

etc. These can cause loose stools, which further depletes the body in

minerals.

After I discovered a magnesium deficiency in my son in January 2002

(no thanks to his doctor!), I started him on magnesium chloride. He

did fine with this. I also started taking it but didn't notice an

improvement. I switched to magnesium citrate but still wasn't seeing

improvement that I hoped for, so last August I switched to magnesium

glycinate. In TWO days I noticed a huge difference! I can now fall

asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow and I sleep restfully all

night and wake up well rested. I still get migraines but frequency

has decreased again.

One big thing I learned is that I can't take magnesium after 5:00 pm

or it peps me up so much that I'm up working until 2:00 am. So don't

give it to your kids in the evening if you expect them to sleep

Since August, has been taking 200 mg. magnesium oxide (it was in

his GNC multivitamin/mineral) and another 200 mg. magnesium glycinate.

We use Solgar's " amino acid chelate, magnesium glycinate. "

But last month (Jan. 18), he switched to a different

multi-vitamin/mineral (Glycentials by Mannatech). It has 500 mg.

magnesium oxide and magnesium glycinate (I don't know the break down

of how much of each). And he still takes an additional 100-200 mg.

Solgar magnesium glycinate.

If you or your kids are using TOBI, albuterol, theophylline, Cipro,

Zithromax, etc. -- and drink caffeine beverages -- then you're losing

magnesium and need to supplement. If you aren't getting a daily supply

of fish, dried beans, some dark green veggies then you're not getting

enough magnesium from foods. There are only a couple fruits that

contain any good amount of magnesium.

The most important thing to remember: DON'T take antibiotics within

two hours of taking magnesium or vitamin/mineral tablets containing

magnesium!

Antibiotics (including Zithromax and Cipro) and magnesium compete for

the same receptor site. If you take them together then you cut the

potency of the antibiotics by 50%-90%. So if you're giving your kids a

multivitmain/mineral at the same time as you're giving antibiotics,

stop now! You MUST space them MINIMUM two hours apart!

Many antibiotics shouldn't be taken with calcium either, so it's just

a good idea to dose antibiotics away from vitamin/mineral supplements

and antacids (i.e., Tums, Rolaids, etc.). And this is also why you

shouldn't drink calcium-fortified juices with your antibiotics!

You can go to www.houseofnutrition.com if you're interested in buying

Solgar magnesium amino acid chelate (magnesium glycinate) at a good

price. I buy it locally at Whole Foods Store when it goes on sale and

stock up.

Kim

Mom of (23 1/2 with cf and asthma) and (20 asthma no cf)