Severe Backaches as sx of tx?

I took #2 Pegasys on Wed, and have been taking the Copegus regularly also.  So far, the only sx I seem to have developed is excruciating pain in my middle and lower back, particularly during sleep.  I have tried pillows between my legs, under knees, sleeping in many positions, heating pads, ice, tylenol, and nothing seems to help.  (I also developed a quirk over the past two months where I suddenly bite the side of my tongue, sometimes bloody...which jars me suddenly out of sleep...but I'm sure this is due to a separate issue, possibly obstructive sleep apnea, which I intend to see a neurologist about.)  In any case, the back pain was so bad las night that I don't think I slept at all and am suffering today as a result.

Is this normal during tx?  Can anyone suggest any remedies?  

Thanks.

[DownThisRoad]

I didn't suffer with back pain in the beginning of my treatment and I haven't experienced back pain all the way through my treatment. I am now on week 36 of 48.

I would notify your doctor as soon as possible and let them know.  These hepC treatment meds are known to bring on different pain symptoms as well as magnify problems that you may of had before starting the medications.


Let your doctor know and he will probably be able to prescribe something to relieve your pain and/or advice as to how to make you more comfortable.

Hang in there, there will be different things pop up on you and come and go.

[ringading]

hey don't ask WHY but somehow, i replied to your back pain post, under..."GENO TYPE 4.......DON'T ASK......I NEED MEDS!!

[ringading]

honey.....what the fooo you talkin bout NOW......WD40 is forCARS AND RUSTY LOCKS AND STUFF ISN'T IT???? ha ha ah...ah i know nothing, EXCEPT.....WOW told you i HATE PAIN PILLS this is REALLY KICKIN IN AND MAKING ME FEEL VERY HIGH.....I DO NOT LIKE THIS AT ALL......AND BACKS STILL HURTING....BUT I MAY GET TO PUKE OUT OF IT ALL!!!!...woooooooo.......think i'll be breaking those puppies in HALF from here on in....even my ears are going funny......yuke..yuk

anyway...yup, A5 35 is a cream that you rub into sore mucsles etc...smells very medicinal, but does REALLY work...yup OTC....i can see your just going to HAVE to come back up to visit in montreal...i live 2 hours drive from there and LOVE an excuse to go there, GREAT SHOPPING and resturants!!!! as well as some of the best jazz and blues clubs next to new orleans and chicgo....

wow...i'm in for a LONG night.....hummmm....don't think i like this feeling so much, maybe the pain wasn't that bad after all...oh BULL....YES IT WAS!!!!
tee hee...from "high" little kimmy

[GALLIUM]

AN OLD SOUTHER REMEDY FOR ARTHRITES IS WD 40
AS TO BACK PAIN HAVE YOU TRIED TIGER BALM WORKS GREAT FOR SORE MUSSLES.
NOW AS TO PAIN PILLS HAVE YOU TRIED TORADOL(KETOROLAC) ITS THE BEST PAIN MED I HAVE EVER TRIED AND NOT A NARC! !
WORKS ON ANY PAIN I HAVE EVER HAD BUT INSTEAD OF THE PERSCRIBED 10 MG. DOSE I USE 20 MG
HOPE THIS HELPS, ALSO DO YOU HAVE ANYONE THAT CAN GIVE A GOOD BACK RUB ? MIGHT NOT HELP BUT SURE FEELS GOOD.

[cindee]

First of all.....very interesting name.

And hello, I don't think I've ever talked w/you...welcome. As for the backache, mine started in about the 2nd month. I am 2 months post on Tues.! SVR all the way. I was on combo riba/pegasys. But my back hurt so bad. I went to a wonderful lady Chiropacter and it felt great while she worked on me....she knew of my Hep C. She was so nice. We talked about acupunture,I would have to go to the next state. The state I live in doesn't allow tatoo palors, piercing, etc. She said in so many words w/o coming right out and saying, she couldn't really help my pain. I'm thinking about going to her one day next wk. But I had to go on pain med. I took 40mg a day of vicodin, and then later had to be increased for a month, and then back to 40mg a day. Even w/ the vicodin, I would use a heated throw and wrap it around me. My father-in law gave me a "homedics" recliner insert. It would heat and masage. It was my bet friend during tx. I think their about 60.00 dollars at K-Mart. I hope you get to feeling better, but I would see about pain management. Some people have to take pain meds. It's not an easy tx. to go through, remember everybody has different problems. This is a great place to come to. Everbody is wonderful...most of the time!!!! lol Take Care and keep us informed. My prayers to all, Cindee

[Ambush]

Hi ~I have also had some lower back pain, especially earlier in the earlier weeks.  I read on the Pegasys drug insert under: Call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop....... and one of the conditions is lower back pain.  You should probably mention it to your doctor to be safe.  My guess is that they are worring about the kidneys?  Make sure you're drinking enough water.
ambush :)

[ringading]

hey...thanks.......feeling better now, vomited 4 times!!!!...THEN i was HUNGRY!!! imagine that...anyway i really really was SCARED for abit there....but the pain was severe and i really was nausea from the pain so thought those magic pain pills i was perscribe were just thing.....first time i've taken them....man.........THINK THE PAINS EASIER TO DEAL WITH!!!!

anyway you youngin you...."tiger balm" is a chinesse..spl. balm, salve that comes in a tiny little tin about the size of a quarter....25 cents!...and can be found in health food stores now as well, years ago you could only find it in china town....it sorta works on a similar principle as the other rub stuff i told you about, but this you just put a dab on eash temple and massage in for a moment.....TORADOL.....it is a non-narcotic pain killer....really only an anti-inflammatory, simlilar to taking 4 advil or something similar.....it has been my SERIOUS PAIN MED...to use only after a surgery or something as i'd rather NOT take codien or opiads.....but i have found it for the first time to be USELESS with this new pain from treatment

anyway...sorry about your Parrot.....STOP putting 10w40 on your arm and maybe he'll lay off you abit...tee hee

and yah bambi...or whatever, yup...."thunder bay, ontario....the land of the SLEEPING GIANT....dull and boring, until that frikken giant wakes up and rocks!!!.....anyway, now that i'm feeling "normal" again....your all probably ASLEEP....
stay cool
kimmy

[layla]

I've experienced sever lower back pain at times on and off during tx. Usually 3 to 5 days at a time. It's ended up related to female problems from tx. Some months are bad, others are nothing, but my hep docs Rn says it's normal. Of coarse you should always inform your doc of any problems. If it helps any it was only real bad for awhile. Best to check with your doc just in case. LL

[WillieB]

I did have lower back pain after a shot of Procrit.  (I just finished 46/48 of Peg and CoPeg.) There are no known side effects for Procrit.  I mentioned the spinal pain to my doctor.  She knew it was the injection site.  I had hit a nerve while injecting in the top of my legs.  I did not want to shoot in the stomach but I do now.  It is soooooooo much easier.  The back pain went away once I started shooting on the tummy (well big gut really).  (Actually smaller gut now.)

[ringading]

ah sweetie, hope sleep finally found you last night!  pain is a terrible thing.....i can relate as can most of us i'm sure....actually...i too was up until 4:30 5:00am.....but at least the PAIN was gone

you know, maybe, just maybe, there is something to what willieb is saying....i don't know WHY you don't want to do your shots in your tummy..( unless you have massive breasts and you can't SEE your tummy )....i HAVE NO REACTION AT ALL from injecting there....tiny tiny wee wee wee red spot....only sometimes.....but since i did what OHC said and leave the needle in for a few secs after....NADA...NUCHA...NOTHING and we can all i'm sure, grab one little inch of flesh on the tummy..just at the SIDE, above my hip..switch each week sides....and then there is NO WORRIES about blood vessels or nerves etc......i'd be terrified to do it in my thighs there fairly rock hard anyway, and no fat there, except for the wee roll on my tummy, which you just gotta KNOW is hard earned chocolate and tostitos and gummie bears....hummmmm, haven't had any of those since last monday....must stock up for injection dinner tommorrow!!!!

[oldhippiechick67]

Yes you can inject in your arm or butt, doesnt matter.  The Pegasys site just suggests the tummy and thigh cuz it is easiest to access.  The upper outer quadrant of the buttock is where you put it, take the cheek, divide into quarters an there ya go.  The nurse at the docs office injected the Neupogen and Procrit in the same arm...I kinda thought that weird but nothin bad happened so must be okay.  Pain pills should be taken with food they say cuz can cause upset stomach.  If you still puke then either you cant tolerate the med, or the pain made you sick, or ya have the flu.  Holy ****, I just realized I forgot to take my pegasys shot yesterday! (Im a Sat shot gal) The Holidays got me all mixed up!! Ta ta 4 now!  OHC

[ringading]

hey give me your e-mail addy if you can....i have something to tell you hahahahahahhaha........or go back and get mine....WAYYYY BACKKKK

[ringading]

thats alright darlin.....seems everyone had today screwed up anyway.....i had to call my daughter to see what day it was!!!!
it should be okay if your one day off of your shot isn't it??? it's not like it happens all the time........is it???? ah brain gog!!!.........i could go into another whole bit on the ol memory thing....but i'll wait til later...too tired to be funny...need more coffee first....
cheers
kimmy

[ringading]

OKAY, DID YOU GET THAT.....I WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE I SEND OFF THIS NEXT ONE!!!!! ha ha ha

[AK - Hepper]

I didn't show you anything, that's all guru willing

[scruffy]

If I remember correctly I had quite the back pain after shot #2. Felt like it might have been kidney related. After that there has been a variety of sore muscles but nothing to compare to that backache.At #29 now.