back pain and muscle ache

Hi – Quick background – I was dx with hep c 01/05/08 and dx w/ cirrhosis – 03/05/08. I’ll receive the results of my tests to determine geno type etc on 04/16/08 and I’m scheduled for my liver bx March 26. Of course, I am not on tx yet.

My question – is back pain and/or muscle ache sxs related to hcv or cirrhosis?

For the past 3 weeks I am experiencing a lot of back pain and muscle aches (especially in my arms) – and it is getting progressively worse. Nothing takes away the pain – I do get some short-term relief from hot baths and a heating pad – but naproxen/ ibruprophen(sp)/aspirin have little effect on the pain.  I am 99% positive I have not done anything to cause an injury.

[comeagain]

I have been having back, knee and muscel pain for many years.
Especially backpain. I have a discinjury so I thought it was that, but now after txing, it is so much better so I think a lot of my pain must have been caused by the HCV. I have no cirrhoses.
I´m on my sec tx on my first i had constant back and aweful muscle pain in arms. but mostly in the legs both upper and lower, so I couldent sleep more then tops an our at the time.
Havent had that this time( so far) gonna take my 11 shot tuesday.
Not totally true have had some pain but not of that magnitude as last time ( hasn`t effected my sleep)
The pain escalated during tx (first time) so I´m prepared to face some this time aswell!
Why its so much milder this time i can only speculate in, could bee that the liver has rested. Or that  I´m taking pegasys instead of pegintron this time, or both ?

[NashPred]

Muscle and joint aches and pains can definitely be a sx of Hepatitis.

I started having back pain last summer. My Dr. and I both thought it was work related since I use my back so much at work. After months of this pain, I decided to have a regular physical with blood work to see if there was something else going on that the Dr. was missing…….Surprise!  my blood work came back showing I have Hepatitis B and C.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have also started having pain in my knees. I’m hoping all this will get better after tx that I start in a couple of weeks.

[HARRYBEADS]

  Hello, Sorry to here of your enrollment in the life of Hep C.
I have 1a and just finished treatment last January,in June I'll find out if it worked. DX of Hep was found incidentally when a physiatrist did a work up on me because of the constantly increasing pain in my feet, legs, hips, shoulders and back over the last five years.The GP did arthritis tests all came back neg. A Orthapaedic surgeon said a pain syndrome,RSD, another Orth.. said my knee needed a scrapping so I let him and it didn't help. For years I has treated for RSD untill my wife  booked an opointment with this Physiatrist.
  Pain for many is the first signs especially in the back and lower extremities, but it's hard to find a heptaloligist that will admit that this is related to Hep unless it is on the right side by the liver or you have Cryogobulinanemia.
  Anyway now they say it's progresive MS,do I beleive this one?

You'll see many here have the same thing as you welcome to the community.

Harry

[fuzzy1dar]

Sorry to here you've been dx with HCV.  I've been having pain in my back and muscle's for along time now. I was dx 2/07 w/geno2b. Unfortunatly the pain has increased since I started tx on 1/25/08...especially in my neck and shoulder area.  I do think that this pain prior to tx is associated with hcv...although my Dr. won't agree to this.
I hope you have a painfree tx.

best wishes, Darla

[incharge08]

thanks for the input - I feel better that it may not ALL be in my head - what type of meds did you take for pain prior to tx? Of course I'll check it out with the dr first - just need some suggestions
thanks again

[sfbaygirl]

I have had injuries in back, arms etc. in the past. I wasn't prepared for the pain during and after tx that I experienced from the bones and muscles. Some get it before tx, I had a bit, but nothing like now. I was dxed with fibromyalgia in Dec. close to a year after tx and relapsing.  I take Lyrica which helps a lot!  It is for nerve pain. I would think that it may help you with your pain w/o narcotics. I went to a Rhemy and he gave it to me. It has really helped. Hope you find some relief!

Linda

[FlGuy]

If you hcv diagnosis was in January and your biopsy will be later in March, then was was the assessment of cirrhosis in early March based upon?  It's the biopsy that provides the condition of your liver.