HCV tendon, muscle, joint problems

[Dee1956]

Hello, I was cured of HCV 18 months ago, I am very happy for that.  For several weeks I have been trying to see if there is a connection between the HCV virus and tendon, muscle, joint problems.  A year before I was diagnosed with HCV I had a tendon snap in my toe. all I was doing was walking.  I have also had problems with tendons in the elbow pre-txt.  I have had severe back problems with the sacroiliac joint.

After finishing tx I developed plantar fascias which I realize is also a tendon.  It took 6 months to heal.

For the past 6 months I have slowly  been experiencing, bicep, tricep and shoulder pain which also could be tendon, ligaments, muscles, not sure.  I am going to a specialist on Monday to hopefully get an MRI to see what is happening in my shoulder.  It is suspected that I have torn the labrum which is inside the rotator cuff as well as  some of the tendons in the rotator cuff.

Today I stood up to do an exercise to help the shoulder pain and my low back popped out of place and now I can barely walk.

I am trying to see if others have had problems with this.  I remember reading others stories years ago about similar problems.  While I understand that age has a lot to do with these things.  I am interested in finding out what I can do to help myself.  Due to my low platelets from cirrhosis I do not want to try surgery until I have exhausted everything else. i.e. does HCV cause a problem, or cirrhosis? Does tx aggravate these problems.  Are there vitamins or supplements that we might be deficient in that might help?  Does cirrhosis play a part?

I am sorry to sound so low, I am lost and trying to find my way. Just trying to find a way to help myself.  I had hoped that once I recovered from the tx I would have a chance to start over, get in shape, live my life free of the virus that plagued me for 30 years.

I would appreciate any responses, studies, information.
Thank you
Dee

[BoceprevirGal]

     Good info, Dee. The last half year, before I Treated, my fingers were contracting all the time, and I was no longer able to even sign my name, which I need to do all the time, when I am working.
   Now that I have reached SVR, no more contracting fingers :)  It was so painful when it was happening, and they would freeze into the strangest positions. I would be screaming while my Hubs tried to pull them back into place, by massaging them.

[kmatucson]

Hi Dee.. I too am 18 months SVR... We were treating at the same time if you recall..   I have been suffering from joint pain and have developed mild arthritis in my hip and toe of all things..  My doctor told me that hep c can cause arthritis..  I have started taking something that seems to be helping, but I don't know if they will let me post it here.. Last time I gave someone the name of something they deleted my post..  A month ago I could not sleep on my side, but now it doesn't bother me..  Is it what I'm taking?  Don't know.. but, I seem to be feeling better overall..  John Stossel (spelling?) from ABC news did a story on the stuff.. perhaps you can google it..  

[Dee1956]

I just remembered my first Hep doc freaked out when he saw my pinky was contracted, it happened when I cut a tendon many years ago.
I just remembered that and wondered why he panicked when he saw it.
It seems that there is a connection between fingers contracting and HCV so I am searching, I found this and wanted to come back to share this information
I am hoping it is ok to give this site, I thought it was informative as it shows a connection between joint problems etc and rheumatology.

http://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/HCV_and_Rheumatic_Disease/
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[Dee1956]

I found a little info, it seems that it starts with pain, you don't move your arm then scar tissue builds up.. more pain, less movement, it is a vicious circle.
Here is something I found about this

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001490/#adam_000455.disease.causes

Again, thanks for all responses, Willy's references are very interesting I am looking into all that he posted. Dee

[Dee1956]

Thank you so very much for your reply.  This pain is unbearable. I tried to treat it with heat ice, even a personal ultrasound, the pain just kept getting worse until I felt like a knife was stabbing me or my shoulder was ripping.  It is confusing to me how it all happened since the doctor said it can just come on and as it does it creates scar tissue.  He is giving me 8 weeks of PT, if it does not work, he will put me to sleep and manually break it up eek!
You can bet I am going to be working very hard on healing this myself :)
He also said the average person waits about 3 months before coming in so at 5 months I wasn't too bad as far as seeking help.
My best to you, Dee

[Dee1956]

Thank you so very much for your response. I appreciate you taking the time to help me find out more information. I have read many posts from the past so hoped it would be ok to ask here again.

Today I went to the orthopedic doctor he said I have adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) he said the fall could have done it or it could have been coming on any way. Diabetics are 3 times as likely to get this and women are also more likely.  I have never felt a pain like this, it feels as if my shoulder is ripping every time I move it.  The doctor told me that more pain is in store for me. During physical therapy the objective is to get rid of the scar tissue which has some how formed.  I know I did not start this way, it was a pain here and there which I tried to treat for close to 5 months until the pain was with me constantly and I put a sling on.  That was the worst thing I could have done.
He actually gave me pain meds to take before and after each session of PT

Again Willy, I thank you so much.
Dee