Symptom 9: Joint Pain
When we think of hepatitis C, joint pain isn’t an immediate association. Yet, for many patients, an enduring ache in the joints becomes an inseparable part of their experience with the disease. This symptom serves as a reminder of the far-reaching implications of hepatitis C.
Joint pain in hepatitis C patients isn’t a direct result of the virus attacking the joints. Instead, it’s believed to arise from the body’s immune response to the virus. The immune system, in attempting to combat the virus, might inadvertently target the body’s tissues, leading to inflammation in the joints.
This joint pain isn’t uniform across patients. Some might experience it as a mild, lingering discomfort, while others could face intense bouts of pain. The affected joints might also differ, though commonly reported areas include the knees, wrists, and hands.(9)
