Anyone else have joint problems 10 year post Hep C treament?

[bs1111]

I was on "experimental" Interferron and riboviron treatment for 2 years in 1999-2001 and now have no cartilage in my shoulders and have chronic joint pain.  I need bilateral shoulder and hip replacements and have acute lower spine pain which causes bilateral sciatica. It seems strange all my joints are breaking down at once.  At 55 years old, my Dr's comment I am young to need joint replacements.  My Doctors don't seem to know what has caused this condition and one said it was probably congenital???  I think it is related to my Hep C treament because that made all my cartilage and skin hurt at the time.  Has anyone else had these symptoms?  FYI no evidence of virus for 10 years now even tho my chemo treatment was called a "failure"

[antiinterferon]

I started the tx in early 2000 and continued for 2.5 years. If I had it to do over again I would not have gotten the interferon/ribroflavin tx. My health has steadily deteriorated. My hands are so swollen and have huge knots, as do ny toes. I have flare ups of transient swelling and pain and sometimes I cant walk. I was never warned this was chemotherapy. My hair fell out and I have never regained the strenth I once had. You make your own choices, but dont believ all the crap the doctors who are owned by the pharmacutical companies tell you.  Ask questions, ask questions and then ask some more.  Good Luck

[JasmineT]

Dee, Be careful with the vitamin NADH.  I was taking NADH (which is vitamin b derived) and/or other vitamin b supplements post tx.  I started getting shooting pains up my neck and over my ear.  I found on livestrong that vitamin b can cause Occipital Neuralgia.  I stopped asking it and the pain stopped.  

Also, I found a drink called Nawgen a while back.  It contains citlicoline which seems to have some studies showing it improves dopamine receptors and alertness.  It also has 1 cup of coffee worth of caffeine.  I try to be careful not to drink more than one a day and not every day.  But it seems to help me on down days.  The berry flavor is good.  Others not so much but haven't tried them all.  I found it at Fresh Market.

[Dee1956]

I have read that interferon depletes our Dopamine levels which are our feel good chemical in our body.  It makes sense to me when I read of people who do not enjoy the things that they did before tx.

I have been trying L-tyrosine and it seems to be helping to bring some joy, motivation, energy back in to my life.
I also had read about NADH and enzyme that heals our DNA RNA and used that when I first finished tx 2 years ago.
It helped me and other members here.  There is an NADH website with a lot of really good information.  While they are trying to sell something the information is free and you don't have to purchase from them.
Like Ceanthus recently mentioned I am taking Alpha lipoic acid and that seems to be helping with my energy level as well.

What I don't understand is that while people say that these side effects were known, the doctors act as if they aren't.
It is almost as if people are between a rock and a hard place.

I was not aware of long term side effects after tx.  I knew about the sx to expect on tx though have to say that Incivek added to the Peg and Riba was a real game changer and I was very sick during the tx.

So...again, my confusion.  When people try to get help for their long term sx others say, didn't you read the literature that came with the drugs?  Many people saw that, they just did not realize that after tx they would feel worse than they did before treating.  Most people I see thought they would feel better after tx, not worse than they felt before.

While it doesn't happen to everyone it does happen.  It would be nice for doctors to validate their patients feelings and try to come up with something to help them.  Just trying would go a long way to making patients feel better.

I have read that the tx causes auto immune problems and inflammation in the body is causing problems.

My hope is that someday we will know what could make everyone feel well after tx.

I am very happy that there are new drugs that are shorter duration, easier to take.

[Frank J. Perrotta]

Oh, I love HOT HOT HOT baths too and use Epsom Salts too!

I found a great source for Dead Sea Salt from http://www.chemistrystore.com/Products-Bath_Salts.html - they also have Epsom Salts... I am waiting for a big sale so I can get another huge tub of Dead Sea Salts like last year.

I also love their prices on essential oils.  They have a lot of very interesting stuff! When ordering a lot of items their shipping becomes acceptable.

btw, I really miss the deep, gas heated baths in Japan! Everything is separate from the bathtub except for the shower. You shower off after getting the bath water as hot as you like then take a dip into the bath. The tubs are kind of small but very deep so you sit in them but can get your whole body under water! I use to get the bath water near boiling! if the bath water starts to cool off you can turn up the gas and the water heats up. You don't have to empty some water and put more hot water in like in the USA. In Japan there is actually a gas tank where the water goes thru heating it up as you bathe! Amazing!

You can shower and scrub outside the tub and get in again. Many will then put the shower on as cold as they can stand it - especially in the winter. This keeps you crazy warm forever. You can run around in the snow and still be warm. I really miss my days with that gas powered bath tub in Tokyo!

[yowl]

I could have written that too! I took the old Intron A/Ribavarin tx in 1999, before much was known. I was not really informed of what to expect, and got too toxic to continue the tx. I, too, was dropped like a hot potato. I still suffer the effects, joint pains, headaches, brain fog, dental problems, eye problem, etc. My life is ruined and still have the HCV. I think they have tried Interferon on every disease possible, and maybe it has no real use but sure is a money-maker. I find hot pepper ointment helps the joint pain a lot--it's cumulative. Have to keep using it, and hot baths with Epsom Salts. Some things just don't have a solution. Good luck to you all.

[otterwatcher]

I could have written those words too. Treated in 2007-feel just like you do.