Numb Hands

[PhilaGuy]

Hey Everyone:  I've been recently diagnosed, type 2b, high viral load, probably had for 20 years.  I became symptomatic late last year which led me to see my physician.  I've recently seen a hepatologist and will probably start treatment shortly (after the battery of tests, eye exams, stress test, etc!).

Anyway, for the most part I'm feeling fine, except for one thing that developed sporadically late last year and now occurs every night.  I wake up several times a night and my hands range from being tingly to being completely numb.  My hepatologist doesn't think this is due to cryoglobulinemia, but is doing a blood test to make sure.  

My question is, do any of you have experience with this symptom?  Can you have it with HepC in the absence of cryoglobulinemia?  It's the one symptom that really freaks me out, and it seems to be getting worse.  What have your doctors said about it?  Can I be sure it's from the HepC and not, say, MS or something else?  My doctor's great overall, but I was a little put off when he suggested I was probably sleeping on my hands!  I've talked to twotells about it, and have seen posts on the subject from tallblonde and ringading, but wanted to get some other's experiences as well.  Thanks so much!

[mrBenny]

I experienced numb hands at night originally in November 2002.  That's what led to the diagnosis of hep C (blood tests).  I was then put through the usual neurological tests (EMG, nerve conduction), with nothing abnormal seen.  I mentioned cryoglobulinemia to the doc, but he didn't seem interested.

I was a genotype 2, finished pegintron/ribavirin treatment in mid-September, then had a flare-up of the hand numbness.  This was very discouraging because I thought it may have signalled a relapse, but my 12-week post-treatment PCR was undetectable.

I'm very curious about this, and find it very interesting that so many hep C people have this.

[jamit_a]

Sorry to barge in here but, I have a question about a medication that my MD just prescibed to increase my HDL good cholesterol.
It's called (Niaspan) It specificaly says not to take this product if you have active liver decease. I'm not sure if I should consider my decease active or not ? I'm finished with tx and I'm undetectable so far! My liver Panel is fine ALT 33 and AST 37, I would like to keep these numbers where there at!
Any input on this GI PA?? or any one else.

Thanks and God bless,
Jamit_a

[Tallblonde]

I recently did some research on this very issue because I've been having problems with tingling and numbness too (and it's not a side effect of treatment, because I'm not on treatment).

Anyway, you probably already know that it's called peripheral neuropathy, and it's often associated with cryoglobulinaemia, one of the extrahepatic conditions related to HCV.  

Well, the good news is, there is some research that indicates that it's not always associated with cryoglobulinaemia.  Check out this link:

http://ard.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/60/3/290

Susan

[GI.PA]

This is a very patient dependent question.  If you are found to have only mild-moderate disease (no cirrhosis)on biopsy and have been successfully treated, it is likely this medication will not be a problem.  Your liver enzymes can be checked a few months after starting the meds to see if anything has changed.  If you have more severe, less reversible disease (cirrhosis) these meds may be more of an issue.

If you were not biopsied and your nubmers all look perfect now, it is unlikey these meds will be a problem.

Talk to your doctor about your particular case, but it prob wont be a big deal.

GI.PA

[jamit_a]

Thanks for your prompt response. I did have a biops and it showed mild fibrosis, I don't know much about the pathology of the diagnosis. i.e portal bridging, etc. etc.
But the meds seemed to have work for me so far!

Male 38
Geno type 2
VL 6,000,000
biops mild fibrosis stage 1 or 2
Completed 24 weeks of pegasys , copegus.
cleared after 12 and 24
possible cause Tattoo. No IV drug use.

Thanks again for your input.
God bless
Marcello
Jamit_a

[mrBenny]

I recently woke up from my after-lunch nap -- with numb hands.

TB: The article you gave had links to others that cited it.  One of them had something interesting to me because of the issue of infection of nerves by hep C.  I know that the conclusion of the study doesn't show that it never happens (other studies show that it does), but it's reassuring to know that it didn't in this one.

MC = mixed cryoglobulinemia
DPN = distal axonal polyneuropathy

http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/5/808

Conclusion: Painful DPN associated with MC and neuromuscular vasculitis is the most frequent type of HCV neuropathy. The usual detection of MC and the lack of local HCV replication indicate that HCV neuropathy results from virus-triggered immune-mediated mechanisms rather than direct nerve infection and in situ replication.