Joint Pain with Cirrhosis

[wonkydonkey]

I have stage 4 cirrhosis due to heavy drinking. I was diagnosed August 2017 and relapse for a short while after 2 yrs. I am on pretty standard medication and am experiencing joint inflammation and extreme soreness in joint muscles. This has gone on for approx 1 year. It did happen originally but a course of prednisone steroids took all the pain away. They will not give this to me again due to the harshness of it and potential side effects. Anyone else had this severe pain and if so what did they do or take. I am taking supplements to help. Many thanks.

[flyinlynn]

Hi and welcome.

I can’t help you much with your question other than to say what I have read that pain management is very difficult in patients with advanced liver disease.

From what I have read we really can only take Tylenol as other OTC pain meds in the NSAID category increase our risk of having a dangerous life threatening bleeding event.

If pain becomes intractable, morphine based medicines may be considered but that is problematic for patients with a history of alcohol or drug use and abuse.

My only suggestion is to continue to ask your doctor for advice and follow their recommendations.  

Best of luck to you
Lynn