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Pain in legs post interferon treatment
Hello,
My partner is a Veteran and has noticed that since he completed his treatment with Interferon/Riboverin he has continued losing the use of his legs due to a burning pain that feels like it is radiating from his bones and then outward. We have gone through the VA hospital in Oregon and they have done X-rays, MRIs, and even a nerve conduction study that shows that his leg's muscle, tissue and nerves are all operating fine. In other words, they aren't able to pinpoint what is causing the pain and are telling him that it might be psychosymptomatic (which really sets him off, since's he is very independent and balks at the use of his wheelchair to get around and doesn't want to have to rely on anybody for anything). We have also talked to another co-hort, who went through an older Interferon treatment and she is now in a wheelchair. Would appreciate any feedback on what's going on. He's in a lot of pain, and the pain relief options for him are limited due to the fact that he also has some stomach disorders going on as well.
My partner is a Veteran and has noticed that since he completed his treatment with Interferon/Riboverin he has continued losing the use of his legs due to a burning pain that feels like it is radiating from his bones and then outward. We have gone through the VA hospital in Oregon and they have done X-rays, MRIs, and even a nerve conduction study that shows that his leg's muscle, tissue and nerves are all operating fine. In other words, they aren't able to pinpoint what is causing the pain and are telling him that it might be psychosymptomatic (which really sets him off, since's he is very independent and balks at the use of his wheelchair to get around and doesn't want to have to rely on anybody for anything). We have also talked to another co-hort, who went through an older Interferon treatment and she is now in a wheelchair. Would appreciate any feedback on what's going on. He's in a lot of pain, and the pain relief options for him are limited due to the fact that he also has some stomach disorders going on as well.
I do think that a chronic infection causes the body to react systemically, and general pains as well as recurrent pains can be the result of our own interferon and other substances at work trying to eradicate the invader. If you go into tx with an already achy body, it gets magnified by the larger amounts of interferon now circulating. For some it goes away after tx, for others it gets worse, and for the majority of us, it just stays the same as before (from an informal survey that was around a year ago).
Hep B is easily caught. Hep C is more difficult to catch. Most kids are getting vaccinated for it now, in fact it's required. You can get it from parents at birth or toothbrushes and razors etc. Lots of ways to get Hep B. Get vaccinated to be safe, but usually both are blood borne. Check out the hepatitis board for more info.
I got mine in a hospital during a procedure about 10 years ago, so don't let the awful tag that everyone infected is from bad behavior.
I got mine in a hospital during a procedure about 10 years ago, so don't let the awful tag that everyone infected is from bad behavior.
hello friends,
i came to know that one of my friends got infected with Hepatitis B n he offen complaint about leg pain may i know whether leg pain has some relationship with this virus?
n may i take your help to know how he got infected with this , i mean how much chance is there that he got it from his parents he is now 30 years old and unmarried, is it because of his bad conduct? i feel sorry to post such a question as i like him very much but just willing to know the truth if he is hiding from me.
i felt happy as i found this forum.
thank u ...
i came to know that one of my friends got infected with Hepatitis B n he offen complaint about leg pain may i know whether leg pain has some relationship with this virus?
n may i take your help to know how he got infected with this , i mean how much chance is there that he got it from his parents he is now 30 years old and unmarried, is it because of his bad conduct? i feel sorry to post such a question as i like him very much but just willing to know the truth if he is hiding from me.
i felt happy as i found this forum.
thank u ...
If you google Cryogenics you will get something about freezing people while dead. lol. My brain in a bit fried and I will have to remember the exact name. Please don't freak out, you are most likely fine. Tx is hell and you will get rid of the sx afterwards.
I am going to google Cyrogenics now and see read up on it. From time to time I think I may have sudden leg pain for a second or lower back pain but I don't pay any attention to it.
I really appreciate this forum and wish I had found it earlier; like in the very begining when I was reciting Psalm 23 out loud over and over with tears in my eyes in the morning while trying [emphasis added] to get ready for work. it has been a Godsend thus far. I have gone through 6 mos without having anyone to talk to about this sickness that I am experiencing. I feel like the last six mos. should go quickly and I am very optimistic.
So sorry to hear about your Fibro diagnoses ~ stay strong you have accomplished a lot (what doesn't kill us makes us stronger). We should be some tough chicks by now, right? LOL!!!!!
Peace and Love,
TeeVee
I really appreciate this forum and wish I had found it earlier; like in the very begining when I was reciting Psalm 23 out loud over and over with tears in my eyes in the morning while trying [emphasis added] to get ready for work. it has been a Godsend thus far. I have gone through 6 mos without having anyone to talk to about this sickness that I am experiencing. I feel like the last six mos. should go quickly and I am very optimistic.
So sorry to hear about your Fibro diagnoses ~ stay strong you have accomplished a lot (what doesn't kill us makes us stronger). We should be some tough chicks by now, right? LOL!!!!!
Peace and Love,
TeeVee
Not trying to scare you, but tx does come with some risks. The Cyro is more common I think than getting fibro. Doesn't mean you are going to get it!! Numbness in the feet is a symptom, bone pain etc.
Dr's don't tell you everything and don't like forums like this usually, but for me it was a godsend on tx. Most times all the sx's you have on tx will go away once you stop tx. You are on tx for six months already! You must not have that long to go. Worrying will only cause stress and more sx, so try and calm down.
We tend to give the info we can here and hope it may be useful, scary or not. I always injected in my thighs and don't that had anything to do with what I am going through.
Dr's don't tell you everything and don't like forums like this usually, but for me it was a godsend on tx. Most times all the sx's you have on tx will go away once you stop tx. You are on tx for six months already! You must not have that long to go. Worrying will only cause stress and more sx, so try and calm down.
We tend to give the info we can here and hope it may be useful, scary or not. I always injected in my thighs and don't that had anything to do with what I am going through.
Honestly, you guys are really starting to scare me. My doctor didn't tell me anything that I have learned since joining this forum. My doctor actually cautioned me from attending a support group meeting @ Fairfax Hosp and not to believe everything I hear.
I am 6 mos into tx now and have developed a rash mostly on my legs that flares up from time to time. I am dealing with it with a prescription cream.
I mostly do my injections in my torso as opposed to the thighs. After hearing about the horrible leg pain I will stay away from injecting in my thighs.
Peace Love Health & Happiness to All in 2008!!
I am 6 mos into tx now and have developed a rash mostly on my legs that flares up from time to time. I am dealing with it with a prescription cream.
I mostly do my injections in my torso as opposed to the thighs. After hearing about the horrible leg pain I will stay away from injecting in my thighs.
Peace Love Health & Happiness to All in 2008!!
I have leg pain and now all over pain. Sometimes my back and shoulder where I had injuries pre TX. I was sent to a rhematologist who dx'ed me with Fibromyalgia, which I know started during mid tx. The other thing I would check for is Cyrogenics (sp). Which causes lots of pain in the legs. Check the archives for this, as there is a certain way to do this test, which most dr's don't. There is no test for Fibro, but pain while sleeping is a biggy. I have flare ups and am in one now. Pain meds didn't work for the nerve pain I was having and am on a new drug Lyrica. Seems to be helping. The other one is Neuronton, which helps for nerve pain. Good luck! Sounds like some need to see a rhemy.
mSorry to hear about your partner's pain. It's not enough that we go through hell during treatment but it doesn't seem to end there, it continues.
I have the same pain which started after treatment. I have it in my lower legs and feet. It is worse in the late afternoon & night. The burning pain inside the bone seems to be severe when I'm in bed trying to sleep (it usually is so intense that I just toss & turn & finally get up). I also had nerve conduction studies which did not show much, however, my doctor was not as uneducated as yours. He said interferon caused the damage, however, it would not always show up on the test. He said I have "peripheral neuropathy". I went to rehab and tried ANODYNE THERAPY on my feet which helped for a few months; I need to return. They have home units, but my insurance does not cover them.
I also take some medication to try and relieve the pain. Since I am always in pain I don't know if they work.....I think so, I think the pain would be worse if I did not take them. Cymbalta (anti-depressant), Topamax & Limbitral.
Good luck to both of you. It is a long road we travel. Happy Holidays! Judi
I have the same pain which started after treatment. I have it in my lower legs and feet. It is worse in the late afternoon & night. The burning pain inside the bone seems to be severe when I'm in bed trying to sleep (it usually is so intense that I just toss & turn & finally get up). I also had nerve conduction studies which did not show much, however, my doctor was not as uneducated as yours. He said interferon caused the damage, however, it would not always show up on the test. He said I have "peripheral neuropathy". I went to rehab and tried ANODYNE THERAPY on my feet which helped for a few months; I need to return. They have home units, but my insurance does not cover them.
I also take some medication to try and relieve the pain. Since I am always in pain I don't know if they work.....I think so, I think the pain would be worse if I did not take them. Cymbalta (anti-depressant), Topamax & Limbitral.
Good luck to both of you. It is a long road we travel. Happy Holidays! Judi
I am in week 12 of 24 and I too have had this pain and like beamishboy, it is more confined to the left leg. I find it going numb at times when I stand for long periods of time (15 minutes or more). But more on your problem, I felt like my legs were cooking from the inside out and can actually feel it running the length of the muscles in my thinghs. I had some pain down in my calves but found that I for some unknown reason was retaining water in my legs. Once that went down, the pain seemed to subside.
How long post tx is your partner? It is my understanding that sometimes it takes a while for the legs to heal if you are giving yourself injections there. I know I am suffering from major damage to my tissue but just praying that it heals once I finish tx.
Let us know what happens.
How long post tx is your partner? It is my understanding that sometimes it takes a while for the legs to heal if you are giving yourself injections there. I know I am suffering from major damage to my tissue but just praying that it heals once I finish tx.
Let us know what happens.
i have chronic&miserable pain in my left leg only...mri shows a disc rupture...my back injury occured 12 years ago and became a real problem after the trx-48 weeks-...not nearly the same as yr partner,but similiar??..inteferon really stirs up pain&problems generally...TRX suks no fkn doubt..GOODLUCK
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