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Anyone else have joint problems 10 year post Hep C treament?
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"
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Of course I agree with every word you have written.
I just don't know how you are able to put your faith into these medical specialist but then I realize all this has come upon you just two years now. I have fired so many doctors especially specialist as they just can't do anything for me or don't understand the issue. I am so sorry you have gone thru all those surgeries and without much relief.
I don't think I have written this here publicly but I really wonder... why are all these big pharmas running away from interferon? (and Riba)? Do they really have sympathy for us patients suddenly? I DONT THINK SO!
The enormous push to treat everybody no matter the condition of liver or numbers ... just treat treat treat - I do believe that the Sh_t is about to hit the fan one day and it will come out that Big Pharma knew all along about the disastrous life destroying side-effects! I don't think the new meds will be much better either. Some very powerful stuff to "CURE" a virus! Really "cure" a virus! WoW!!!
btw, I hear my story in so much of what you have written. It is really spooky!
Take care and just try to get up with a smile no matter how much energy it takes. It has become a great practice for me. Best of luck, frank
I just don't know how you are able to put your faith into these medical specialist but then I realize all this has come upon you just two years now. I have fired so many doctors especially specialist as they just can't do anything for me or don't understand the issue. I am so sorry you have gone thru all those surgeries and without much relief.
I don't think I have written this here publicly but I really wonder... why are all these big pharmas running away from interferon? (and Riba)? Do they really have sympathy for us patients suddenly? I DONT THINK SO!
The enormous push to treat everybody no matter the condition of liver or numbers ... just treat treat treat - I do believe that the Sh_t is about to hit the fan one day and it will come out that Big Pharma knew all along about the disastrous life destroying side-effects! I don't think the new meds will be much better either. Some very powerful stuff to "CURE" a virus! Really "cure" a virus! WoW!!!
btw, I hear my story in so much of what you have written. It is really spooky!
Take care and just try to get up with a smile no matter how much energy it takes. It has become a great practice for me. Best of luck, frank
Don't you think it's a coincidence that so many people who have gone through Hep C treatment are having the same issues? You don't see anyone that has untreated Hep C having such similar complaints.
I had been living with Hep C for 33 years, and never had any symptoms, didn't even know I had it until I donated blood back in 1992.... and still didn't get treated until 2004, then again in 2011. Shortly after I finished my second tx I started feeling arthritis-like symptoms in all my joints, my hips were killing me with every step I took. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, then I was told I had bursitis, and in 2012 had surgery to remove the right bursa. I was told I had to have the left one removed too, but thank God I didn't, because the pain has remained the same on the right side. I saw a rheumatologist who prescribed medication that didn't work, so he prescribed Lyrica on my next visit, which to me is like drinking water because I feel no different.
I have lost interest in everything that I used to do, hobbies like sewing, baking, jewelry, taking care of my plants; and even daily chores have become a painstaking task. Then I started feeling pain on wrists, hands and fingers, I saw a hand specialist which injected me steroids to block the pain, but after no positive results, told me I needed to have surgery to release the tendons. I had surgery on my right wrist, and a month later on the left wrist and base of index finger (for trigger finger.) I am still in as much pain as before surgery. Nothing seems to alleviate the constant sharp pain I feel.
Brain fog is another part of it, I forget things so easily, even talking to people I find myself looking for words in my mind, while writing this, I have had to do Google searches because I have forgotten words like "bursitis." My husband finishes most of my sentences.... I forget movie titles as early as the day after I watched them. Names, places, dates are easily forgotten, leaving me with insecurities and doubts about what the future holds for me....
I feel fatigued immediately after I wake up, I have no desire to do anything, can't go anywhere without feeling exhausted, even going grocery shopping, or to the mall has become such a painful task, let alone to the movies or on a trip.
My life has completely changed, there is now the before and the after tx, I am happy I no longer have Hep C, but living life like this has become pure hell. Watching people older than you enjoying life at its fullest while you are feeling constant pain is very difficult. Depression kicks in almost on a daily basis.
I definitely have to agree with those who say this is a direct result of Hep C treatment. As a matter of fact, when I first started feeling all this pain back in 2012, I posted a question: "Is this Arthritis or is this the post side effects of Hep C treatment." I was only starting to feel pain then, now two years later, it is a constant agony, a reminder that sometimes we have to give something up in exchange for something else....but when it comes to health... it is a very though thing to do... You are given the promise of starting a new life without Hep C, only to then find yourself saying....."If I had only known.....!!!"
I had been living with Hep C for 33 years, and never had any symptoms, didn't even know I had it until I donated blood back in 1992.... and still didn't get treated until 2004, then again in 2011. Shortly after I finished my second tx I started feeling arthritis-like symptoms in all my joints, my hips were killing me with every step I took. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, then I was told I had bursitis, and in 2012 had surgery to remove the right bursa. I was told I had to have the left one removed too, but thank God I didn't, because the pain has remained the same on the right side. I saw a rheumatologist who prescribed medication that didn't work, so he prescribed Lyrica on my next visit, which to me is like drinking water because I feel no different.
I have lost interest in everything that I used to do, hobbies like sewing, baking, jewelry, taking care of my plants; and even daily chores have become a painstaking task. Then I started feeling pain on wrists, hands and fingers, I saw a hand specialist which injected me steroids to block the pain, but after no positive results, told me I needed to have surgery to release the tendons. I had surgery on my right wrist, and a month later on the left wrist and base of index finger (for trigger finger.) I am still in as much pain as before surgery. Nothing seems to alleviate the constant sharp pain I feel.
Brain fog is another part of it, I forget things so easily, even talking to people I find myself looking for words in my mind, while writing this, I have had to do Google searches because I have forgotten words like "bursitis." My husband finishes most of my sentences.... I forget movie titles as early as the day after I watched them. Names, places, dates are easily forgotten, leaving me with insecurities and doubts about what the future holds for me....
I feel fatigued immediately after I wake up, I have no desire to do anything, can't go anywhere without feeling exhausted, even going grocery shopping, or to the mall has become such a painful task, let alone to the movies or on a trip.
My life has completely changed, there is now the before and the after tx, I am happy I no longer have Hep C, but living life like this has become pure hell. Watching people older than you enjoying life at its fullest while you are feeling constant pain is very difficult. Depression kicks in almost on a daily basis.
I definitely have to agree with those who say this is a direct result of Hep C treatment. As a matter of fact, when I first started feeling all this pain back in 2012, I posted a question: "Is this Arthritis or is this the post side effects of Hep C treatment." I was only starting to feel pain then, now two years later, it is a constant agony, a reminder that sometimes we have to give something up in exchange for something else....but when it comes to health... it is a very though thing to do... You are given the promise of starting a new life without Hep C, only to then find yourself saying....."If I had only known.....!!!"
Hi I am not sure if this would help anyone but this article addresses the HCV being related to Rheumatoid problems.
https://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/HCV_and_Rheumatic_Disease/
https://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/HCV_and_Rheumatic_Disease/
I am 8 months post tx svr!!! Most of the side effects I felt durning my triple tx have long since went away, but the only one that I am feeling is the joint pain...I might have had little aches and pains here and there but its worse now....but other then that everything is so much better!!!! I was on incevik...peg...ribivirin...a horrible combination but after 4 weeks of treatment I was svr! good luck all with your tx its worth it!
Hey all.
10 years post tx with IFN and Ribavirin. Still clear after all these years! Never wanted to find out if I was SVR until I was forced to. I couldn't believe it. No PCR. I almost cried because all along I thought I wouldn't be lucky long term. I believed I was still positive and it haunted me for all these years.
Treatment *****, and I didn't believe I was worthy of success. If you are eligible, do the treatment, believe in it.
Yeah, there are some aches and pains that I wonder if are related to tx, but I wish for all a successful treatment.
10 years post tx with IFN and Ribavirin. Still clear after all these years! Never wanted to find out if I was SVR until I was forced to. I couldn't believe it. No PCR. I almost cried because all along I thought I wouldn't be lucky long term. I believed I was still positive and it haunted me for all these years.
Treatment *****, and I didn't believe I was worthy of success. If you are eligible, do the treatment, believe in it.
Yeah, there are some aches and pains that I wonder if are related to tx, but I wish for all a successful treatment.
I have hep c but I don't partake much in the forum because I have not gone into treatment. I come here and read and educate myself. I am thankful everyone talks openly about what they feel and experience. For me this is a valuable tool for decision making.
This thread was very good for me to read. Thank you for sharing.
This thread was very good for me to read. Thank you for sharing.
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You will find that in other threads, there was a pretty large scale survey done a few years ago, on post tx experiences. Interestingly, more SVR's felt worse after tx, than those that felt better. The symptoms listed that began AFTER tx ended included the problems that you discuss...along with weakness, fatigue, brain fog, and a whole host of CNS related issues.
Just keep communicating your problems, and keep documenting them with your doctors. I have had many specialized tests over the years, with a wide range of specialized doctors, trying to figure out what is wrong. Most of my doctors just plainly admit that the interferon likely 'changed things' for my body and central nervous system. There are certainly plenty of our cases out there. Many on the forum don't want to hear about it though, or see the issue discussed. Your post-tx problems are not important compared to the thought of possibly 'scaring' someone who is considering treatment. Oh well.....
DoubleDose