Aa
Pain
Ok i just have a question, and i cant really tell you to much about my hep C other then i know i have hep C and have for 6 years but i have not had health insurance so i have not seen a dr. in the 6 years but i was woundering if you pain i have in my joints (my knees and hips) if this is from the hep c and if you get this pain at a sertion stag? (and i have cirrhosis, dont know how bad i just know i have it) i hope to be seeing a doctor in the next 6 months, but thats only if i can get some health insuance...but like i said my question is about the pain, can anyone help me? or does anyone know? Thank you....
Just going to say it again, all advice above is great!! I myself was diagnosed by a rheumatologist. I'm only 17 days post treatment so I don't have to good an idea yet how I'm going to feel. My main complaints were body aches and nausea. I did have a relative that went to UCI Irvine to treat his hep c. It was several years ago. But here's the site.
www.healthcare.uci.edu
101 The City Drive
Orange, Ca
714-456-7890
Good luck!!!
,
www.healthcare.uci.edu
101 The City Drive
Orange, Ca
714-456-7890
Good luck!!!
,
I agree. It's essential to see a hepatologist right away, or you risk having your cirrhosis progress to liver failure.
."but like i said my question is about the pain, can anyone help me? or does anyone know?"
I think you got your question answered pretty thoroughly...not much more to ad other than Ive heard a lot of people say there joint pain got better after treating the Hep. As a matter of fact, Im aware of some who didnt even know they had Hep C until they saw a Rheumatologist complaining of joint pain who then ran a Hep panel. So your HCV could very well be causing joint pain as well as some autoimmune issues. You may want to see a Rheuma and see what he thinks.
I looked at the Keck Medical Center here in LA to see if they had any upcoming trials for Hep C but nothing appeared. They have a great Hepatology dept over there so you may want to contact them and let them know you are interested (if you are) in being in a trial.
Take Care
I think you got your question answered pretty thoroughly...not much more to ad other than Ive heard a lot of people say there joint pain got better after treating the Hep. As a matter of fact, Im aware of some who didnt even know they had Hep C until they saw a Rheumatologist complaining of joint pain who then ran a Hep panel. So your HCV could very well be causing joint pain as well as some autoimmune issues. You may want to see a Rheuma and see what he thinks.
I looked at the Keck Medical Center here in LA to see if they had any upcoming trials for Hep C but nothing appeared. They have a great Hepatology dept over there so you may want to contact them and let them know you are interested (if you are) in being in a trial.
Take Care
Welcome to the forum. I think Pooh gave you great advice esp. the last paragraph. I had no health insurance and was treated through the LA County system. It started with a walk-in visit to Long Beach Comprehensive Health Center--an LA County clinic. A routine blood test showed I was positive for HCV so my doctor referred me to Harbor/UCLA hospital--a county hospital. I did my biopsy there which showed stage 3 fibrosis, so I was setup for treatment through the hospital's hep C program. I had to wait 21 months for the triple therapy to be approved on their formulary, and then began treatment in Sept. 2012. I finished in 3/12/13 and so far I'm undetectable for HCV.
All of my doctor visits, labs, biopsy, and roughly $80k worth of medications were paid for by the county because I was a low income resident. Vertex donated the Incivek through their patient assistance program.
There are long waits at the clinic, long waits at the hospital, but since I wasn't working and getting treated, I was grateful. I felt very lucky to be getting treatment without health insurance. I firmly believe that if you go out and seek treatment and are persistent in asking for help, you will get treated even without health insurance. Below are some clinics in OC one of which is in Fullerton:
http://ochealthinfo.com/phs/about/dcepi/clinics
BTW, I had major shoulder pain and loss of mobility similar to "frozen shoulder" pre-treatment. I couldn't even tuck in my own shirt and had to sleep on my side with my arm propped on a desk. First week into treatment my shoulder got better and it's still working like normal.
Wishing you well and if you need more help just ask.
All of my doctor visits, labs, biopsy, and roughly $80k worth of medications were paid for by the county because I was a low income resident. Vertex donated the Incivek through their patient assistance program.
There are long waits at the clinic, long waits at the hospital, but since I wasn't working and getting treated, I was grateful. I felt very lucky to be getting treatment without health insurance. I firmly believe that if you go out and seek treatment and are persistent in asking for help, you will get treated even without health insurance. Below are some clinics in OC one of which is in Fullerton:
http://ochealthinfo.com/phs/about/dcepi/clinics
BTW, I had major shoulder pain and loss of mobility similar to "frozen shoulder" pre-treatment. I couldn't even tuck in my own shirt and had to sleep on my side with my arm propped on a desk. First week into treatment my shoulder got better and it's still working like normal.
Wishing you well and if you need more help just ask.
Welcome to the forum. I am sorry you are having these problems. I will try to respond to your questions.
Hepatitis C can have a lot of extrahepatic manifestions (problems outside of the liver). While pain in your hips and knees may be from any number of causes, one of the extrahepatic manifestiations to hepatitis C is arthritis. If your pain is an extrahepatic manifestation of the Hepatitis C, is is not necessarily related to any stage of the disease.
"Arthritis is a condition characterized as inflammation
of the joints. Hepatitis C-related arthritis (HCVrA) is
estimated to affect about 4% of the HCV population,
but since most patients will not see an arthritis
specialist the true number is likely higher. Hepatitis
C-related arthritis is classified into two groups –
polyarthritis and mono-oligoarthritis. Polyarthritis
is similar to rheumatoid arthritis but is less serious.
Mono-oligoarthritis affects the medium and large-
sized joints – typically the ankles. "
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Extrahepatic.pdf
http://www.ccjm.org/content/72/11/1005.full.pdf
I also wanted to mention that if you have cirrhosis, you really need to be seen soon by an experienced and competent Hepatologist at a large medical center/liver transplant center. I know you do not have insurance but most large University affiliated medical centers have financial assistance programs and sometimes the care/treatment is completely free. Since you live in Fullerton, you are near Los Angeles. There are people on the forum from that area and perhaps one of them can give you more information about who to see in the LA area. Cirrhosis is the last stage before one develops End Stage liver Disease so you really need to be seen soon. Hopefully someone from the LA area will come along soon and respond.
Best of luck.
Hepatitis C can have a lot of extrahepatic manifestions (problems outside of the liver). While pain in your hips and knees may be from any number of causes, one of the extrahepatic manifestiations to hepatitis C is arthritis. If your pain is an extrahepatic manifestation of the Hepatitis C, is is not necessarily related to any stage of the disease.
"Arthritis is a condition characterized as inflammation
of the joints. Hepatitis C-related arthritis (HCVrA) is
estimated to affect about 4% of the HCV population,
but since most patients will not see an arthritis
specialist the true number is likely higher. Hepatitis
C-related arthritis is classified into two groups –
polyarthritis and mono-oligoarthritis. Polyarthritis
is similar to rheumatoid arthritis but is less serious.
Mono-oligoarthritis affects the medium and large-
sized joints – typically the ankles. "
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Extrahepatic.pdf
http://www.ccjm.org/content/72/11/1005.full.pdf
I also wanted to mention that if you have cirrhosis, you really need to be seen soon by an experienced and competent Hepatologist at a large medical center/liver transplant center. I know you do not have insurance but most large University affiliated medical centers have financial assistance programs and sometimes the care/treatment is completely free. Since you live in Fullerton, you are near Los Angeles. There are people on the forum from that area and perhaps one of them can give you more information about who to see in the LA area. Cirrhosis is the last stage before one develops End Stage liver Disease so you really need to be seen soon. Hopefully someone from the LA area will come along soon and respond.
Best of luck.
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