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Intense Pain In Arms And Above Ankle. On Lipitor For Several Year. Suggestion?
Question: i have been on lipitor for several year but have been recently (2 weeks ago) been taken off due to intense pain in upper arms and pain beginning above ankle and extending up the back on my left leg and across lower back.also when i sit i have pain on the left side, it hurts so much that it is very hard to walk and they have given my some pain pill which are hydrocodone 5-325 (substituted for norco 5/325 mg tabs. I an told that it will take sone time for this pain to go away but it does not seen any better. Please any suggestions?
Thank you,
XXXXXXX
Thank you,
XXXXXXX
Hello,
I have read your problem and feel that you are suffering from muscle pains brought about by use of statins like LIPITOR.
While statins are generally quite well-tolerated, the most common side effects are related to the skeletal muscles.
There are three types of muscle problems associated with statins.
1....Myalgia ( muscle pain ) is experienced by 2% to 10% of patients taking the drugs. Statin-induced myalgia is generally experienced as a soreness, usually in the shoulders and arms, or the hips and thighs. STATIN INDUCED MYALGIA HAVE OCCURRED UPTO 3 YEARS AFTER STARTING THE STATINS.
2...Myositis ( muscle inflammation ) occurs in about one in 200 patients taking statins. Myositis causes myalgias (as described above) and an elevation in CK levels (a muscle enzyme) in the blood.this rise in CK levels is above 10 times of normal value.The elevation in CK indicates that actual muscle damage is occurring.
3... Rhabdomyolysis is severe muscle injury and is actually a massive breakdown of muscle tissue ,which results in a large release of muscle protein into the bloodstream, which can produce severe kidney damage and death. Rhabdomyolysis, fortunately, is very rare, with roughly one case occurring for every 10 million people.
STATIN induced myalgia and myositis will both resolve within a few weeks if statin therapy is discontinued. Unless it is severe enough to cause death, rhabdomyolysis will also resolve after the statin is stopped.
Just get your CK LEVELS checked,stop the statins and take the pain killer as advised.
Your doctor is right as it takes some time to become normal.
You shall be all right gradually over a few weeks.
I hope it helps however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck.
Thanks
I have read your problem and feel that you are suffering from muscle pains brought about by use of statins like LIPITOR.
While statins are generally quite well-tolerated, the most common side effects are related to the skeletal muscles.
There are three types of muscle problems associated with statins.
1....Myalgia ( muscle pain ) is experienced by 2% to 10% of patients taking the drugs. Statin-induced myalgia is generally experienced as a soreness, usually in the shoulders and arms, or the hips and thighs. STATIN INDUCED MYALGIA HAVE OCCURRED UPTO 3 YEARS AFTER STARTING THE STATINS.
2...Myositis ( muscle inflammation ) occurs in about one in 200 patients taking statins. Myositis causes myalgias (as described above) and an elevation in CK levels (a muscle enzyme) in the blood.this rise in CK levels is above 10 times of normal value.The elevation in CK indicates that actual muscle damage is occurring.
3... Rhabdomyolysis is severe muscle injury and is actually a massive breakdown of muscle tissue ,which results in a large release of muscle protein into the bloodstream, which can produce severe kidney damage and death. Rhabdomyolysis, fortunately, is very rare, with roughly one case occurring for every 10 million people.
STATIN induced myalgia and myositis will both resolve within a few weeks if statin therapy is discontinued. Unless it is severe enough to cause death, rhabdomyolysis will also resolve after the statin is stopped.
Just get your CK LEVELS checked,stop the statins and take the pain killer as advised.
Your doctor is right as it takes some time to become normal.
You shall be all right gradually over a few weeks.
I hope it helps however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck.
Thanks
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Mohammed Kappan
Answered by
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