what is making my bones hurt?

Hi - I was wondering... I'm on week 5 of Prove 3, (tx'd 2 yrs. ago, non-responder), and it seems like my bones hurt much more this time.  Last time they were really sore, but worse this time - especially my lower back.  Any thoughts?
thx, w.c. missy

[ladywhy]

I was told it was the interferon. I am experiencing the same thing with my lower back and sometimes hips. (not constant...just sometimes) My PA says it also seems to affect old injuries...like sprained ankles, torn ACL's. I had a piece of bone (12 yrs. ago.) removed from my hip...she said interferon can/will affect that. Don't know how..but, just wanted to pass it on. I'm also txing again.
Wishing you all the best.
Yvonne

[missy60051]

That is what I was told by my(New DR.) heptatoligist.  Recently my interferon was lowered from 180mcg to135mcg.  Next wk I'll start that process.  I hope it helps.
14/48 and UND
Missy

[SonicBandaid]

Probably is the interferon, but if the problem persists its probably worth discussing the issue with your treating Doc / Hepatologist.
Osteoporosis and osteomalacia are both bone problems that can be a problem fro patients, particularly women, with liver disease.
Cheers,
Sonic

[orphanedhawk]

Besides the interferon, neupogen ( if you're taking it) can cause bone pain also. I too, get it in my pelvic region. My heating pad is my life saver, ahhhhh!

[w.c. missy]

thanks everyone for your info - i ses my doc tommorrow (week 6 visit).  i do recall now that i did hear somthing about the interferon - i think it settles in weak ares and makes it worse (on me, low back).  as part of my "50 yr. old check-up" this year, i had a bone density scan done - i told my docs that i was woried about the long term effects of interferon & bones (especially since i treated 2 yrs. ago), and turns out my scan was normal for my age - no osteoperosis!  i guess it's all part of the aches & pains of tx.  good to know i'm not unique though!  happy sunday to all!
peace,
w.c. missy

[Myown]

I had bone pain for a few weeks or so when I first started tx. I think it may be related to the interferon also. It was very uncomfortable, but a heating pad did help and eventually it did go away. Just the other day I did get bone pain again but it only lasted a day. That was the first time that happened since I first started tx.

Hope you feel better soon.

[meki]

OK - Just adding info - because I believe with each person who puts their info in, there will be one individual who will go ---- I NEEDED TO KNOW THAT or THAT SOUNDS LIKE ME.

I am almost 3 months past 6 months tx - Pegasys/Copegus tx (my tx ended mid February)

I am a 40 year old woman, white, mid healthy, always chunky (not massive obese.) Not a real exerciser, but not so lazy that the couch is attached to my hind end. Just plain normal...

3a SVR now - all blood counts getting back to normal.

Every single bone in my body feels like it's going to fall off --- almost like it's not connected.

My bones ache and "thrummmm" and sometimes feel like they are pulsing. (I don't know if that's the best way to describe it - but that's all I can think of.)

It is almost constant.

The worst feelings are in my knees - which now crackle if I do knee bends - and feel like they are going to break and I will fall down - if I go up stairs or try to bend them while standing.

My ligaments, to my bones, feel stiff, and as if they are going to break if I go one further.

The scariest is my sternum in my ribcage. It pops. The cartilage in the front of the ribcage tenses up and when I am laying down - or leaning in some positions or couging (especially bad when I am laying down and cough)  - and it will seize up - and then it will "pop" and it stops feeling weird.

The ribcage is bizarre - it's an "almost" kind of pain. Not sharp - but dull - uncomfortable --- but not really on the "stubbed toe" pain scale... More like when your finger needs to be popped but you can't quite crack your knuckle. But it terrifies me - because I start thinking of everything that could happen if it splits - and that leads to me tensing up - which causes more of a problem there.

Once it pops - it doesn't really bother me any longer - until the next time.

My neck and shoulders, shoulderblades, lower back and hips and ankles consistently ache with that throbbing kind of almost head-ache kind of feeling in your bones.

And this has happened all since I started TX - and still going on post TX at 3 months.

I've tried vitamins - coQ10 - eating veggies - drinking milk - taking supplements.

Currently the only thing that is allieviating the aches and pains is percocet - 10/325. But I only take those when my cramps (also massively intensified since I've been bleeding since January - almost non-stop.... which I have a scheduled surgery for hysterectomy July/Aug based on upswing of platelet count.)

But I can't take them at work (I work in Emergency Services) and I certainly don't want to have an addiction to pain meds... Even if they are the ONLY thing that stops it.

Now I've heard that interferon can cause arthritis  - Maybe that is all that this is.

I keep hoping it's going to go away. But it's good to know others are having or have had achy feelings like that.

Like being run over by a mack - and just getting up from traction - after being in the hospital for 5 weeks.

LOL!


So - it's quite possible it is doing something - and a double dosage or more insult to injury is just doing what our bodies do best - making you scream because it (the body) doesn't like foreign or bad things inside of it.

Meki