Symptom 2: Persistent Joint and Muscle Pain
When most folks talk about joint and muscle pain, it’s often chalked up to aging, overexertion, or a previous injury flaring up. But with Hepatitis C, the pain has a different character. It’s more elusive, popping up in one spot only to move elsewhere later, like an unwelcome guest you can’t quite pin down.
While everyone has the odd ache or crick now and then, HCV-induced joint and muscle pain is more persistent. It’s not the soreness that follows a heavy gym session. This is pain that doesn’t respect boundaries. One day, it might be an insistent throb in the knees, the next a stiff neck or aching wrists. The pattern, or lack thereof, can be baffling.
Why does this happen? Hepatitis C doesn’t directly attack muscles or joints. But as the virus affects the liver, inflammation can ensue. The liver, tasked with filtering toxins, struggles, leading to a buildup. This systemic inflammation is believed to be the trigger behind the wandering aches and pains HCV patients experience.
Physical pain is, no doubt, debilitating. But there’s an emotional toll too. Persistent pain can affect one’s mood, leading to irritability, frustration, and even depression. Daily tasks can become challenges, from opening a jar to simply standing up after a long sit. This mental strain, paired with physical discomfort, can seriously hinder life quality. (2)
