foot and ankle pain

[kennybob]

hey guys...kinda new here..found out from being tested for RA that i have hep c...am wondering if hep c can cause SEVERE pain in the ankles..my joints in my ankles hurt constantly n you would not believe how they crack and pop when i rotate my foot..started back in jan..have been to an orthapedic doc n he sent me to rheumatoligist..she did my blood work n called to let me know i have hep c..had my liver biopsy yesterday and have read that hep c can cause joint pain...just wondering if anyone else has experienced this kind of foot and ankle pain..thanks guys

[aceIII]

Or anybody out there with severe chronic pain. Sorry I haven't been on the site for a long time and hope you have found some answers/relief. I was diagnosed hep c in 95 w/ no symptoms and went on interferon trial. Broke out w/ psoriasis and got so bad by 6 weeks was covered with it. They said coincidental, but learned different. Stopped interferon and swore would never go on it again. Began lower symetrical leg numb/tingle in 03 that moved up to knees and developed extreme debilitating fatigue. Went back to doctors and was convinced to try new copegesus. Went thru 48 weeks of life changing hell that put me out of life and out of work. Thought I was losing my mind. They wanted me to continue 8 more weeks. Made it through 2 before I just absolutely thought I was going to lose it all together. My viral load rebounded immediately.  I supposedly have the most resistant strain anyway.  In the mean time the leg situation began back at the feet again only as severe pain and worked its way up to the knees and above. They call it peripheral neuropathy. It is mostly in the muscles and tendons, but has surfaced to the skin and burns there also. Have been to rheumatologists, neurologists, pain managements. Have had nerve conductions, sleep studies, muscle biopsies, labs out the yang, been on every script you can imagine and now have been relegated to pain management w/ massive doses of narcotic w/ provigil for fatigue (and lactulose for constip. and enceph) just to function. Was trialed for spinal cord stimulator but platelets have been so consistently low since interferon that it was ruled out. They might can do a platelet transfusion (six pack?) prior to stimulator implant test, but the jury's still out on that one.  Am literally to tired (and broke) to persue it. Hope your journey hasn't been this fruitless. Has anybody had similar neuropathy or any thoughts or suggestions?  

[DD9th]

I'm wondering if that is why I'm experiencing an increase in leg pain (caused from degenerative discs L4 & L5).  

I'm on my 4th week and the pain is just getting worse and worse, even effecting my sleep.  Sometimes I can't get comfortable, standing, sitting, lying down, walking.... nothing.

The other sx of the treatment are nothing compared to this leg pain.  I had it before the tx, but it just seems intensified.  

I'm worried about taking Ibuprophen, and then Tylenol to deal with it.  Surely that is hard on my liver/kidneys.  I asked the doc about it and he said it would be ok for me to take them.  

As far as the back (more left-leg) pain, I'm actually considering getting the surgery, but not sure if I should do that while on this tx.  I've got 5 months to go.

[kennybob]

thanks so much...still waitin on the biopsy results...the only thing saving me n allowing me to work my 12 hour shifts is the fact that i was in a wreck back in june..broke 4 ribs,..OUCH..they put me on oxycodone for the ribs n my doc continues to prescribe them for me to use for my ankles..they r the only thing that kills the pain enuff for me to get through the day..thanks again for answering my question...and best of luck to u

[scruples]

Foot, ankle, knees pain and cracking sound ..... me too experienced these all. some time i used to feel sever pain in ankle and wasnt able to walk properly when i stand up after sitting a long time. These became worst during tx and now a bit better after six months of end of tx. wish you best of luck

[JennyPenny]

Foot, ankle, elbow, shoulder, wrists.....I've experienced it all. The only thing that worked for me is a drug called plaquenil. The rheumatologist suggested it and it helped so much. Good luck on feeling better soon.