If you have followed my posts you know that I am a firm believer in fitness. For me, my family history forced me to take a hard look at my own personal fitness in my late 20's. My father died at age 64 of heart disease and my mother died at age 64 from breast cancer. My oldest sister died at age 60 of lymphoma cancer. My fraternal grandfather died in his 40's and my maternal grandfather died of heart disease in his 60's. In my late 20's, after losing both my parents, examining the health history of my family line, I decided to be intentional about my health.
Diet, exercise, and stress management are essential to my personal fitness program. Multiple blog posts give evidence to this. Even then, also documented is my struggle with GERD and other health concerns. Some things just happen!
For the last several years I have struggled with an ear problem causing pain and discomfort, especially during sinus drainage events (which, thankfully, I don't have much of). I am blessed NOT to have any struggles with allergies. I find that a good hard run usually clears up many of my sinus problems. However, this persistent ear problem has been a challenge. Finally, after multiple attempts to solve my ear problems my family doctor referred me to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. I am pleased to say that progress is being made. Regrettably, because of the ongoing ear problem, I have lost about 15% of my hearing in that ear.
All of this to say, that during the course of treatment for my ear problems, I was put on the antibiotic Levaquin, a strong drug used to treat pneumonia. Coincidentally, as the weather turned much colder I began to experience muscle pulls in my calf muscles. I thought it was due to the colder temps so I began wearing running tights and used cut-off sock tops to keep my calf muscles warm during my runs. I also did extra pre-run stretching of my calf muscles, which I still do. For over a month I experienced extreme frustration with my calf muscles pulling and getting tight during my nightly runs. After my runs I iced down my calfs on both legs.
Toward the end of this period of calf muscle problems I was referred to the ENT specialist for my ongoing ear problems. My doctor happens to be a runner also. During the exam and while reviewing my medical history he noticed I was currently taking Levaquin. He asked if I was experiencing any muscular problems in my legs regarding my running. Of course, I unloaded telling him about my frustration with pulled calf muscles for the last month. Then he laid a bombshell on me. He said I should limit my running for the next 4 weeks until the Levaquin gets out of my system (I was about to finish the prescription). He said that Levaquin has a known side effect of causing pulled leg muscles, especially Achilles tendon tears! Holy smoke!! He said I was probably lucky I had not ruptured my Achilles and to be very careful.
So, I did curtail my running for a month. I gradually resumed my running regimen 3 weeks ago and have gradually worked my way back up to my normal workout. Thankfully, the problem with muscle pulls in my calf has gone away and I now have confidence that I am not going to rupture my Achilles tendon, at least as a result of Levaquin. I still try to stretch my Achilles properly pre and post-run just to be sure. I am thankful for a doctor who recognized my dangerous situation because he was a runner also. I hope you don't have a similar problem with pulled muscles related to the consumption of antibiotics!
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