Aa
JOINT PAIN
13yrs. after interferon alpha and ribavirin treatment I am still suffering from chronic joint pain, is there a solution to this problem, or am I destined to be experimented on by my Doctors be cause they have no clue what the causes are? Right now the Percocet, indomethacine and prednisone only dull the pain, it has been progressively get worse as I get older.
I agree with the others that you should see a Rheumatologist for your joint pain. Most regular doctors don't know much about joint pain and they know even less about Autoimmune Disorders.
Both Hepatitis C and Interferon can trigger Autoimmune Disorders. So you have two possible triggers for Autoimmune Disorders. Most Autoimmune Disorders cause joint pain (something most doctors don't know).
A good Rheumatologist will examine you and test you for Autoimmune Disorders. A good Rheumatologist will also treat you based on symptoms. You can have an Autoimmune Disorder and be negative on the blood markers/tests/antibodies. Those tests can change and most people have a lot of symptoms before they develop positive tests. Some never develop positive tests for the disease they have. If the Rheumatologist feels you have an Autoimmune Disorder, the Rheumatologist will treat you and will continue to monitor your ever few months to see how you are doing and to see if the tests change.
I have an Autoimmune Disorder caused by Hepatitis C. I know this because all of the symptoms of the disease were present prior to treatment. I had a lot of joint pain as well as muscle aches (as well as a host of other symptoms) prior to treatment and it continued after treatment. I suspected that I had an Autoimmune Disorder. A year after finishing Tx I saw an excellent Rheumatologist at the University of MN Medical Center. She diagnosed me with Sjogren's Disease. I have been on treatment with Plaquenil since last September and I am feeling considerably better (including less joint and muscle aches).
I would recommend seeing a Rheumatologist at a university medical center if you can. They are more likely to be more educated and more up to date on current treatment and therapies.
Wishing you the very best.
Both Hepatitis C and Interferon can trigger Autoimmune Disorders. So you have two possible triggers for Autoimmune Disorders. Most Autoimmune Disorders cause joint pain (something most doctors don't know).
A good Rheumatologist will examine you and test you for Autoimmune Disorders. A good Rheumatologist will also treat you based on symptoms. You can have an Autoimmune Disorder and be negative on the blood markers/tests/antibodies. Those tests can change and most people have a lot of symptoms before they develop positive tests. Some never develop positive tests for the disease they have. If the Rheumatologist feels you have an Autoimmune Disorder, the Rheumatologist will treat you and will continue to monitor your ever few months to see how you are doing and to see if the tests change.
I have an Autoimmune Disorder caused by Hepatitis C. I know this because all of the symptoms of the disease were present prior to treatment. I had a lot of joint pain as well as muscle aches (as well as a host of other symptoms) prior to treatment and it continued after treatment. I suspected that I had an Autoimmune Disorder. A year after finishing Tx I saw an excellent Rheumatologist at the University of MN Medical Center. She diagnosed me with Sjogren's Disease. I have been on treatment with Plaquenil since last September and I am feeling considerably better (including less joint and muscle aches).
I would recommend seeing a Rheumatologist at a university medical center if you can. They are more likely to be more educated and more up to date on current treatment and therapies.
Wishing you the very best.
Psoriatic Arthitis is an autoimmune disease that has no inflammatory markers in testing. It may or may not present with psoriasis. While on treatment I developed psoriasis then came the joint pain. I saw a Rhema after TX who DX me with psoriatic arthritis. He said it may or may not go away and to give it time. A few months went by and most of it went away. He said I was luck because hes seen cases where it didn't.
Fast forward a year later. My joint pain has come back in the same spots as before. No psoriasis...just the joint pain. I will see the Rheuma in a few weeks. For those that have had there docs say its age related...I am only 36.
I understand people not wanting to take any more medications after their experiences with the HCV protocol however just like the advances in HCV TX drugs...there are advancements on PsA drugs. A new drug just got approved a few months back called Otezla. Its an oral med, easy on the liver that seems safer than the biologics like Humira and Enbrel.
Anyways, I guess what Im trying to say is that for those with unexplained joint pain that test neg on inflammatory markers it could be psoriatic arthritis. Even if you have no psoriasis.
Wishing everybody the best.
Fast forward a year later. My joint pain has come back in the same spots as before. No psoriasis...just the joint pain. I will see the Rheuma in a few weeks. For those that have had there docs say its age related...I am only 36.
I understand people not wanting to take any more medications after their experiences with the HCV protocol however just like the advances in HCV TX drugs...there are advancements on PsA drugs. A new drug just got approved a few months back called Otezla. Its an oral med, easy on the liver that seems safer than the biologics like Humira and Enbrel.
Anyways, I guess what Im trying to say is that for those with unexplained joint pain that test neg on inflammatory markers it could be psoriatic arthritis. Even if you have no psoriasis.
Wishing everybody the best.
I have seen a rheumatologist and when I mentioned that other doctors suggested that my new joint pains are possibly age related he clearly said NO - there isn't a pain which is age related. He could not clearly diagnose a rheumatic disease but he said that is possible that it is the onset of a rheumatic disease. I do have a swollen painful ankle joint but all the inflammatory tests are not showing anything. None the less it is visible. So we are waiting and following up. I was reading the other day that even a low thyroid can result in joint pain and favor autoimmune issues.
My thyroid is clearly on low after tx and i gained 10 kg in a very short time
Just something to look at - the relation between low thyroid and joint pain
My thyroid is clearly on low after tx and i gained 10 kg in a very short time
Just something to look at - the relation between low thyroid and joint pain
I do not have auto-immune problems myself, but I have heard others besides AWorriedMom get relief from the Plaq'. Since last I heard, this is an off-label use for this med, you may have to educate your doc in its use.
Hi Diana66,
I agree that they won't have a solution, but it will be nice if they recognise that our problems are interferon related and not other things like age.My nerve pain was put down to depression for three years until they tested me, its quite funny now when I think of it, take care Deb
I agree that they won't have a solution, but it will be nice if they recognise that our problems are interferon related and not other things like age.My nerve pain was put down to depression for three years until they tested me, its quite funny now when I think of it, take care Deb
I was a young 39 when I treated and feel the same way as your hubby and still feel the same way 4 years later. so its not his age. I guess we all have to keep banging on to our doctors and maybe one day get listened to (very much doubt it ) try and keep your spirits up and take care Deb
My joint pain started right after I was diagnosed and got worse while on treatment. I did not clear. I finally saw a rheumatologist and she found that my problem was due to autoimmune issues likely caused by the virus, not the drugs. She put me on plaquenil for 6 months and the relief came slowly but it has lasted for the past 15 years. While I am not perfect, I am not nearly as bad as I was before I saw the rheumy. I finally cleared the virus 12 months ago and the mild joint pain is still there.
To follow up on Livelife777's comment, you might try seeing a Rheumatologist to see if the problem is auto-immune related. If you search this forum, there are several threads on things that people have found to be helpful post-tx.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Hi that is terrible to live with pain so long. My hubby treated last yr with incivek and he as been in constant joint pain night is the worse part he only manages a few hrs at a time and mentally it is torture. His hep doc wont believe there is such a thing as post interferon syndrome he just tells him it is down to age(63!) if you find anything that helps then please let us know. Wishing you well Jules
My name is Dan I have Hep C and Arthritis I have been suffering with joint pain
so severe i lost my job and I think of suicide all the time. My doctors contribute the painh makes the depression worse to the Arthritis and send me to all their friends for tests and in the end they always do the same thing they throw pain killers at me Vicodan 750ML. Then they imply that I am self medicating whic
This is been the case for at least the last ten years.
so severe i lost my job and I think of suicide all the time. My doctors contribute the painh makes the depression worse to the Arthritis and send me to all their friends for tests and in the end they always do the same thing they throw pain killers at me Vicodan 750ML. Then they imply that I am self medicating whic
This is been the case for at least the last ten years.
My first and most important Question is why is your doc Prescribing Perks ,that is the worse thing possible to cure pain long term,Short term it works great.The problem your going to run into is that perks are the worst drug on the planet and especially for liver problems,your doc must be off his tree seriously.The problem u have now is Try going a few days with out them i bet u a million your paid is 2 times worse now then it was before until u take another perk .These pills will destroy your life period..If i were u i would find a new doc asap cause perks have acetaminophen in them worse thing for your liver along with booze etc .Same goes with tylenol .Either get new pain management therapy or new med`s which are band -aids not cures,I dont like baring bad news to any one ,i myself have been through the opiate addiction thing and its one hell of a drug to kick and the side effects arer awful..Try to get meds with out acetaminophen like morphine or toridol might be spelt wrong but ,Please get off those asap
Wish you the best and hope one day you can enjoy life without paid again
Wish you the best and hope one day you can enjoy life without paid again
Just wanted to add some thoughts to your question. It is my understanding that Hep C often causes auto immune disorders. I experienced joint pain prior to treating with the new hep c drugs, Sovaldi /Ribavirin. Had thought that once I was cured the joint issues would go away, as I had blamed it on a side effect of the virus. Was able to become cured, but joint pains remained. Did a lot of research, and I do believe I have Rhumatoid Arthritis caused by the virus, not the treatment. So even tho the virus was cleared, the rhumatoid stayed intact. Most people I have spoken to with hep c have auto immune issues, and there are many. At this juncture, do not want to take more meds for the RA, and will just accept it. Kinda had enough meds in my life. I do believe that the earlier treatments were super harsh and that they also caused a lot of negative long term problems. I'm really sorry that they gave you in my opinion, harmful meds. Might add, am also a cancer survivor and had taken chemotherapy in the past. To this day, I still have many repercussions from that therapy. Guess the question is, was it worth it? Only we as individuals, can answer that question.
Take care. ...Kim
Take care. ...Kim
Thank you Deb, The Drs. still have no answers to what causes these problems, and no remedies to help ease the pain, it is now working on me mentally, the VA's solution is to send me to a psychologist and pain management class so I don't blow a gasket. There has to be something out there that can give us some relief, I just don't know where to look anymore, I'm just tired of this. Thank you again for your reply.
Sorry to read your still suffering 13 post tx, I'm going on 4 years and I HATE IT, I'm far to negative to comment much from fear of getting negative responce. I'm so sorry I treated because life is too different now, my problems started right after tx, joint pain, nerve pain, worsening of depression and anxiety, teeth problems the list goes on. Hopefully one day we get our answers, take care Deb
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