Joint Pain

[merlino]

Hello all, hope everyone is doing well.  It has been 4 months since finishing tx and I have been experiencing a lot of joint pain. I went back to the gym (very slowly) thinking it would help but so far no. My dr said this is a side of tx that I might have forever. Its mostly in my fingers, wrists, shoulders and knees. I am pretty pathetic getting out of bed in the morning. After a while it gets a little better. Is anyone else feeling this? Any suggestions?

[Mikkimoe]

So sorry the vicious RA beast has bitten you - it is relentless and stays with you for life - I've had it for 15 years and have had many ups and downs (including 16 surgeries) - the worst ever during tx - they had to take me off at 13 weeks - I was in total lock up mode. The best thing I ever took that worked was Enbrel - 9 years then stopped - now on Rituxan with mild relief, The prednisone is just part of my life - good days only 5 mgs - bad days up to 15....The tx brought on a whole new awakining of autoimune - RA - Fibro - Chronic Fatigue - Neuralgia   etc....way to much fun...but asI understand they may be part of the heptamanifistations that may go away in 6 months....so I am keeping the faith and hope and praying that this may be my case as I approach my 5 month post mark...just keep the faith and a slew of good docs, a good attitude and a bottle of champagne(for post of course)  and try to live life to the fullest no matter how ****** you feel.... Happy Thanksgiving BTW

Mikkimoe

[julianne2149]

sorry...it's been 9 weeks POST  Tx.

[julianne2149]

I just got done w/tx the end of Sept, 2008. virus cleared. I had joint pains before the tx. When I stared tx the joint pains went away. Into the 5 & 6 th mo. of tx the joint pains returned w/avengeance. it has now been 9 wks prior tx and the RA Dr. had me on prednisone (he said i have inflammatory arthritis). I was afraind that pred. would affect my liver so I weaned myself off completely as of 2 weeks ago.  I am in so much pain right now I may as well be disabled. It is really severe and I have a high tolerance for pain.
I really don't know what to do at this point. I started accupuncture, eating alkaline diet, taking anti-inflammatory nutrients, but I just started this about 3 wks ago. I pray that this is not a permanent condition. The good news is my virus cleared, the bad news is...I'm crippled.  I think I was left on the tx too long, they probably should've taken me off in the 5th month when the joint pains started...


Juj
sldb-I hope my joint pains go away like yours did.

[sfbaygirl]

That's how I started, except I had stabbing pain in my shoulder.  Then it was something else.  Massages help, but sometimes they can stir it up a bit.  Maybe you may try Nuerontin or Lyrica and see if it helps.  I know how tired I am of Dr's!  But if this continues it sounds like you need to see a rhemy.  Doing too much can make things worse. Stretching is great and you should continue that.  Don't do too much at the gym. Water aeobics are great and may help you.  

[merlino]

Thanks everyone. My dr wants to see me if pain doesn;t start to subside by next month. I have to be honest - I am tired  of going to the dr's. I am seeing a massage therapist. Feels great, but relief doesn't last very long.  dperry, it started in certain area's(first my fingers-then than wrist etc) then for 2 weeks it hurt all over. That was tough! Pitter, taking off a shirt over my head was unbearable and it drove me crazy not to be able to hold my hair brush and blow dryer without almost dropping and pain. Stretching feels good, taking it slow at the gym. Will keep everyone posted. Thanks, Merlino

[pitter]

Merlino...I was told   NOT to force any movement...and not to exercise if it hurt at all. cuz you can cause damage to your joints that way...you have to get the imflamation under control first...best of luck.

[pitter]

Hi, I have not tx yet...but I did have severe rheumetoid arth.flare up about 7 yrs. ago. ( b4 I knew about the hep c...)  Same as you said..mornings really bad, started in wrists,,then gradually went to  all major joints, over a 2 week period ...couldn't open my hands to hold a coffee cup, or barely pullup my own pants top get dressed. I also have RA in my family pretty big... any how, I took prednisone for 1.5 yrs. high dose at first, then gradually down to .05 mg. for the last year.... I also took some anti inflammatory meds...I have forgotten which one... But I did get better...now 7 yrs. later, I take nothing, accept advil here and there...and I am okay pretty much...mild pain , nothing like  it was...I think the continued low dose of Prednisone helped... good luck , I know that the pain is awful. That was the only thing that worked.
Pitter

[sldb]

I had horrible joint pain prior to tx. in all the same places you did,but once starting tx all pain went away.  I experienced a horrible resurgence of pain 1 mth post tx.and i just figured  i had relapsed, but that was not the case.  I txd 96 wks i i feel it had something to do with stopping tx suddenly after being on pegasys for so long without a break. The pain went away 3rd mth post tx. and has never returned.  17mth svr now.

[R Glass]

Are you on any other Meds such as Statins or Blood Pressure Meds? I had to quit taking both because of bad side effects. Muscle and Joint Pain was the main side effects.  Statins are a wonder drug for cholesterol but not everyone can take them.

[dperry10]

I am 10 wks post tx too. And having joint pain in knees, wrists and fingers.  And in my hip, and back & shoulder area.. but went for an adjustment for my back.  Of course not all areas hurt at once.. but switch from one to the other.  Waiting for post treatment results.. just a qual test.   to see if its still there or not, and go from there.  

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Dana

[sfbaygirl]

I agree with others you need to see a rhemy.  I too had joint pain after tx and the flare-ups got worse. Hard to get up and in pain in the morning, not sleeping etc.  My rhemy watched me for about a year before he decided I had fibromyalgia, obviously a sx of tx.  So now I have 2 awful sx for life.  I am taking Lyrica now for the pain and it works great for the pain. It is for nerve pain and has it's sx, but so far I like it.  Being in pain was NOT what I want or need and the pain seemed to last forever, while in a flare.  Best to you. Check out the fibromyalgia board on MH and get a rhemy to see if you may have something like this or CFS.  Good luck!

[Lady Lauri]

  Sorry, hope it get's better and maybe with a bit more time to get these meds out of you!
  
   Past 2 yrs. before even a dx for the Hep C, my usually non stop legs were always hurting and had pain in the knee's, joints there. While my leg pain is x10 on tx.....the pain in the knee's is about gone??!  I'd thought they were 'damaged' for good. Hoping it does not come back too.
  Agree with mouse tho on getting checked by rhuematologist, rule out certain things.

Feel better

LL

[FloridaMouse]

Hi all,

If you are having a joint pain on a regular basis you really should get checked out by a rheumatologist.   The drug information sheets that come with interferon will tell you that there is a less than 1% chance of contracting an auto-immune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.  Both of these cause joint pain.  

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 2 weeks after if finished my first round of treatment.  However, I did have predisposition for this disease as my Mom had it.

Mouse

[gentleliver]

I experienced the same thing and it sucks. Several mornings I have woken up with incredible knee pain and even had to go to the ER one morning. A rheumatologist is supposed to be able to do something about this.

[HARRYBEADS]

I had this prior to treatment and was told that possibly it would get better after, have your Doc send you to a Arthritis specialist, hear they can help alot.

Harry

[anwaar]

This is sad. I hope it resolves despite the dr saying it might last forever. Have you tried acupuncture or massage therapy?  It is just a thought.

[beamishboy]

i suggest a deeply tropical enviroment-there! my spelling appears to be somewhat improved..GOODLUCK

[beamishboy]

i am sharing the same problems post-trx...apart from retiring to a hammock in a deeply tropical enviormnt i see no ready solutions