Completely Helpless

[MauiPrincess]

I will make this short.  8 Months ago over the courswe of 2 weeks I started having severe pain in L hip when laying.  It proceed to start happening to feet, hands, shoulder and knees.  In the am I can barley walk.  I also can not make a fist for at least 5 min.  After about 30 min and some anti inflammatories I will feel slightly better. ANY inactivity causes the pain to worsen.  It is very difficult to ascend and descend the stairs.  The pain in my shoulders never goes away, I can not even strap my bra.  I have seen a rheumatologist.  The only abmormal lab work is elevated C3 and CRP.  I test positive for Hep C with no viral load.  I am taking Ebrel, Isoniazid and pyridoxine (sp)  I am not getting better.  Wake up at least 4 times a night with severe pain and stiffnes.  Also have hot flashes.  Can anybody provide me with some answers.  My doctor says RA but I think it is something else..............

[amespi]

Please ask your rheumatologist if it could be polymyalgia rheumatica.  My husband has gone on mtx and cortisone and he is 90% improved.  To get that diagnosis he went to three different doctors.  Everyone wanted him on Embrel.  But one doctor was very sure that it was not rheumatoid arthritis.  So my husband decided to take Methotrexate and cortisone which he is lowering and is about 20 mtx and 4 cortisone.  Hope this helps and good luck to you.

[smittygirl]

Did they test you for the HLA-B27 gene marker?  Look up Ankoylosing Spondylitis at Mayo Clinic site or just google the words.  I belong to the AS society and have had it for years.  Except for the Hep C I have a lot of the same symptoms. Also take Enbrel, this will be my 6th shot today and so far not really working.  They are going to try Remicade next.  Did you have any kind of an infection prior to the symptoms coming on?  Also, check out the the Arthritis Foundations website.  There are over 100 kinds of arthritis.  Did they check your sed rate?  If you don't already have copies of your labs make sure you get them and start a file.  It took me 3 different dr's and a lot of research to get a dx which was finally confirmed by the Mayo Clinic.  I actually have 2 different types of arthritis, the other being Reactive Arthritis brought on by a UTI and having the HLA gene. AS effects the spine, but can effect other areas, the ReA effected my knees,hands, toes .  I can hardly climb stairs, and need to "push" myself up to get out of a chair. It takes about 2 hours in the morning before I can use my hands, getting dressed is difficult too.  Not being dx makes it harder to deal with so please do not give up and if you have to, keep searching for a doctor that is committed to finding an answer.  The two web sites I gave you are good places to start.  I agree with Cheryl about going to the Hep C forum for help as well.  Please stay in touch with us as a support system is so very important.  Feel free to message me and we can speak some more, I truly understand what you are going through.

Sue

[ChitChatNine]

Have you tried also posting over at the HepC community .. they may have some experience there, too ... ?

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/75

Cheryl