4- Joint Pain
Muscle aches and joint pains are witnessed in chronic hepatitis C patients. An underperformed liver can induce many extrahepatic effects in the body, one of which is muscle/joint pain. In a detailed study, 239 patients with hepatitis C were analyzed. 70% of patients present with musculoskeletal pain. The nature of pain was different for patients. The different types of pain noticed include:
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- Backache
- Arthralgia (joint pain)
- Myalgia (muscle pain)
- Neck pain
- Generalized pain (all over the body)
- Diffused pain (associated with fatigue)
According to a study Hepatitis C induces neuropathic pain, which can vary in intensity. Hepatitis C is associated with peripheral neuropathic pain. Another study found that peripheral neuropathy risk factors increased with age in hepatitis C patients.
Fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbances are commonly seen in hepatitis C patients. In addition, the neuropathic pain caused by hepatitis C does not respond to conventional therapies and requires oxcarbazepine.
