leg/joint pain

[garde]

I have daily leg pain, starting from my knees down my calves and shins.  I wake up with it, so it is not only when my legs are tired.   Do any of you have this same problem?

[lindavalu]

I started getting leg mustle pain and joint pain all over my body when I started tx.
I started taking lots of fresh juice Omega 3 mag phos tissue salts and vit B I also drunk some herb teas I was told wouldn't interfere with treatment.
This helped heaps for about 4 1/2 months into tx when my partner started demanding some weird stuff and I ended out going through heaps with him and the new friend he wanted me to accept him also being with.YUUCKK
I fall into a deep hole. got rid of them both after some very stupid dramas finally but I stopped taking care of myself the way I had been and the pain and depression kicked in.
I'm a year after treatment trying to pull myself out of one of the heaviest depressions
Iv'e ever been in. I also have lots of mustle joint pain and today got diagnosed with myalgia which Doc said came from cytotoxic  shock in my case.
In the last few days I've finally been able to get myself back into making juices I've started taking SAMe (expensive here) vitB12, C, E, and Omega 3s and high magnesium again and I'm already feeling less depressed at least.
The doc said although I have Rheumatoid artheritous in all my joints its not showing up in my blood in a way that means its for ever although he said it could be.
Lots of green food and all above is what I'm going to try I'll let u know how I go especially with the pain in joints and mustles
My hands go numb when I lay down too but thats eased slightly since above
Im also trying a new immune booster also exy but what choice eh?
Aroha Linda

[lida89]

First of all hello... to everyone. i was just wondering if anyone would be able to help or has had with a similar condition. So for about 5 weeks now i have been having joint pain which started off always at the right side....arms,finger,knees,back. Then it would go verbadom...... its not a sharp or stabbing pain just this stiffness kind of pain...kinda hard to explain. I'm not sure what it is but its not stress or work related....i can wake up with this feeling...so...any ideas? anyones input would really be helpful. Thanks!

[[email protected]]

occipital rigors are real common for me, especially in the evening......as to the leg pains and shin splints- I can swim a bunch but now can't walk for more than 100 yd  or so before hips all the way down starts screaming....I've been really pushing myself to swim everyday- that means being careful not to lie down- that's an unwanted 2 hr nap waiting to happen and so everyday is a fight ..I'm 16 weeks into 48 week regimen- I have noticed mental issues, focus problems etc......

[DoubleDose]

The above sx all seem to be par for the course with the tx.  I have been battling the calf,ankle, foot, and even thigh pains and cramping since getting off tx.  The calves are the worst, and I am constantly stretching and moving my legs in the evening to get relief.  Its become a fact of life, along with all the other wonderful post-tx physical problems.  I am sure my lethargy and lack of energy and motivation is tied to some sort of depression related brain chemical changes spurred by the interferon.  The depression and fatigue after treatment seems to be the most common post-tx complaint of all, from the personal accounts that I have read, and from the UK post-tx survey.  

How about shoulders neck and ribs after tx?????  Do any of you feel very tight, and painful in those areas, especially at night trying to sleep?  I have this set of problems on a regular basis, and DID NOT feel any of this even during the worst of tx!!!  Strange stuff happens once you stop the drugs.  I think the system swings into overdrive, and starts producing all sorts of autoimmune reactions, in many of us.  When it will all turn back off is the $64 Million question.

DoubleDose

[[email protected]]

exact pain I'm getting after 16 weeks of Pegasys!  I do no impact excercise but swim daily to relieve tightness and neuropathy. These new pains came along 4 days ago out of the blue- exactly like severe shin splints most aggravated when I curl toes up..except left leg only....I've had chronic shingles, 2 disc surgeries and had Decompression sickness from scuba diving this past spring, so lots of stuff happening which I'm trying to sort out. Couldn't believe I read your description....sort of glad its not something else. Don't need more drama....question: I seem to be getting various numb spots - my right thigh- after swimming....brand new stuff. More interferon side effects? This stuff is brutal.

[rsterling]

I am a week off of treatment, and although I had the joint and leg pain I'm now experiencing a lot of discomfort described in this thread around the shins and calves.  It wakes me during the night and is uncomfortable all day long.  I tried a muscle relaxer and pain reliever that didn't seem to help at all.  Although this is a new side for me one I put down to coming off the meds, I would like to say that just a few days off the meds I saw a great change in my skin (for the better)all the rash has left my legs and I'm a lot more hydrated.  If anyone cares to comment I would appreciate comments on when the hair starts growing back in after treatment and how long before people who quit dying their hair through treatment, started dying their hair again
Thanks, Robin

[layla]

My hair did not start growing back in for about 3 or 4 months after tx but I amy be a bad example since I lost my thyroid and that affect hair growth too. I did continue to lose hair during that period. LL

[layla]

Yes it seems we tend to blame everthing on HCV when in fact there are many times it is not form HCV. I experienced that situation a few times during tx.
I have not heard of that descrition of pain related to tx or HCV but maybe someone else has and will mention it if they see this. If it continues and is very painful perhaps you should see a sports medicine doc.. Maybe you have an injury. Have a great weekend. LL

[scruffy]

You say the depression stuck around after the interferon days? How long has it been? I ask because that's a bit of a problem I'm having post treatment 1 year. Have you tried stopping the prozac on occasion to see if the depression is still happening? Understand I'm curious for myself and not critical of your approach in any way. Good luck with the joint situation. frank

[scruffy]

Hey thanks for the answer. I'm a relapser so also looking at what next.(Ha)My brain was always a little bent but a bit more positive pre tx. Be Well. frank

[twotells]

Alot of us have had muscle and joint pain from the HCV or the Tx for HCV.  Some of us also develop peripheral neuropathy which is nerve damage mostly in the extremeties (legs and feet, arms and hands).  A few (5%) of people with chronic Hep C develop a problem called Cryoglobulinemia which is a significant cause of joint pain and neuropathy in heppers.  The cryo can be detected through a test called the Cryocrit.  Most people with cryo get better once the hcv clears in tx, but not all.  I had the rare misfortune of having the cryo get worse on tx and I was treated with a cancer drug called Rituxan for it after 2 months of severe pain in the feet, legs and hips.  People with cryo can also require longer HCV Tx (in my case 96 wks of Pegasys) because cryo can interfere with SVR, resulting in relapse.  I remain clear at 6mo post tx, so the Rituxan and the longer treatment with Pegasys appear to have worked in my case.  Whatever the source of your leg pain, I hope you are able to get some relief.  I wish you the best,  Dave

[nyhepc]

i have leg pain too. it feels like shin splints (?), which you get from running on pavement. when poking at my leg, the pain seems to be coming from the muscle on the sides of the bone, rather than the bone itself. and when my leg is straight out, if i bring my toes straight up, it intensifies. annoying when walking which i do alot of at work
one thing i am concerned about is attributing every ache/pain to hepc/liver damage, i'm afraid i'll turn into a hypochrondriac lol. it's hard to figure out what applies and what doesn't. people ask "how are you feeling?" (my mother calls every day),and i wonder what to say. not as good as a couple years ago, but not absolutely awful either. alot of little things, when added together, that makes me not up to par. anyway, i say "fine" and let it go.  
pleasant thoughts to all, have a great day

[garde]

The treatment was not working for me.  I stayed on the prozac for almost a year after stopping treating.  I went to every other day.  Then after I stopped, about 6 months later, I ended up working 10 -11 hr days due to a special project.  I could not sleep, and I was preparing for a business trip.   All of a sudden, I started having panic attacks again.  Thought they would go away once I left for my trip, which was also comibined as a vacation.  Did not work.  Actually had to come home early.  

So went back on prozac full time and also get anxiety medication.  Don't take the anxiety medication except once in a while, when I feel funny.

Can't explain, but I think the interferon messed up by brain permanently.  Kind of like it messed up my stomach.  I never had problem with citrus products, now I do.

Oh well.  I can't wait to start a new treatment (ha) if they ever come up with one.

garde

[layla]

It seems to me most leg pain reported by people with HCV is either joint or muscle. By your post it sounds like the entire bottom of your leg hurts, bone and muscle. Is it one or the other or both? Many of us have or had joint pain from the HCV and some of us had muscle pain from the meds. Not sure if this helps at all but maybe you could explain your pain a little more. LL

[honey1616]

Garde,,,,Yes lots of people experience that from hep.  In my case before treating,,,I had pain in my feet alot,,shooting pains and sometimes hurt to walk.  I didn't even know I had it so was clueless to the cause.  You say you have treated,,,,Did you relapse?  Maybe someone will come along that has something that will help on your pain.....

[garde]

Thanks for the quick reponse.  Yes, I do have Hep c.  I read up a little on the Sam-e.  Is it also used for depression?  I'm alreay on prozac (since my days of being on the interferon).  Never did get over that part of it.

[Tallblonde]

If you have Hepatitis C like the rest of us here, then your leg and joint pain is likely a symptom of that.  Read the thread below on SAM-e.  I take 400 mg. daily and it has completely alleviated my joint pain.  Apparently, others (Cuteus, for example) haven't had the same success with it, but it may be worth trying to see what happens in your case.  SAM-e is also safe to take during treatment, unlike other supplements.

Susan