I have PBC/AIH overlap and have had excruciating pain in my big toe joint for about four weeks. I had an x-ray and ruled out a fracture. Now my foot and toe are a little swollen. It hurts to walk and I am starting to have pain radiate up my leg....
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?
Yes I have. When I spoke to the specialist at the hospital he told me that it had nothing to do with PBC. He has now referred to me to a reumatologist. Waiting for an appointment. It affects my toes as well and yes - it is very painful walking. Shoes that used to be very comfortable are now no longer comfortable. Hope to see the specialist shortly for an answer.
Same here. Dr and podiatrist said probably wee bit of age related arthritis. Xx
I have lyme and possible pbc as I have normal lft and scans ect... I do have ama for years... but got told even tho 95% pbc have it... ama on it's own.. isn't always pbc.... anyways.. I would just get the toe checked, not everything is linked back to pbc.
hope u fine a answer.. could it be arthritis?
Yes I have widespread pain in joints and muscles. After several years of being told by a rheumatologist it was osteoarthritis. I got to the stage where I couldn't walk on my feet and started using a wheelchair. By this time I began doubting my rheumatologist and sort a second opinion. Best thing I did......my new rheumatologist knew something about PBC and suspected serum negative inflammatory arthritis and put me on plaquenil....it takes a long time to work but I am in so much less pain now and walking again. I won't say my joints and muscles never flare up but I suppose it's a matter of comparison.
If you are middle aged the assumption is osteoarthritis but PBC can be the cause.
Take care
I have had pain in one big toe for years ( osteoarthritis )so I know how painful walking can be as every step you take bends the toe joint. At least 20 years ago my hip and knee became painful as well as I was walking using the side of my foot to try and avoid the pain in the toe. Through a physiotherapist, natural healer , I don`t really know what to call her, I had insoles made by Langer, a cast is taken of your feet and then the insoles were made to correct the foot position taking into account the swollen toe joint. She was having good results with people with back pain with these insoles so we gave it a go. Nowadays they are common but not all those years ago. This I had done privately and they were expensive but they have kept me walking all these years and I have never taken pain killers. At the moment I also have a pair made through the NHS podiatry service which are good but there was a great performance getting decent ones ( the first ones were cheap and rubbish) and as I thought they were never going to get it sorted I went privately to get another Langer pair made. I hope this saga helps!
Thanks everyone. I don't think it's osteoarthritis. I am 39 and have done yoga my entire adult life so my joints are in great shape. I have an appt today, hopefully the dr will have answers
Have you considered gout? OTOH I can't think of exact symptoms, but why don't you look it up on something 'good' like Patient UK website and see if it tallies for you? I THINK gout is more common in those of us with AI conditions, though not linked precisely with PBC or AIH.
Further, I suspect some GPs mention osteoarthritis as an option for any joint pain in people of a certain age. My own usually good GP has decided pain in my thumb is due to osteo. Esp as I am a knitter too!! 'Funny' thing is it began on the day of my last liver biopsy when I had a really painful and clumsy cannulation by a poorly supervised med student, and had pain and numbness thereafter. it has never gone away, doesn't affect other joints, and was never a problem before that date. And it's my non-dominant hand. Initially he said it was 'neuropraxis' and would improve in a few weeks. Now it's been over a year it is osteo! My cynical side makes me wonder if his reaction would be same if the cannulation had been done by a nurse or some other HP. Rant over. Sorry all!!
Please don't let your doc palm you off with 'just osteoarthrits'.
I hear your pain over poor cannulisation. I had an intern wake me up at 3am in hospital the night before an SAA. He did it twice and then the anaethetist said it was no good and put it in when I was asleep. When I woke up she had had 2 goes too! What about my veins? One registrar made blood fly everywhere and then forgot to put a cap on it. Now I ask for an experienced nurse only.
Dr diagnosed me with gout.I have to go see my RheumatoligistRheumatoligistRheumatologist ( I also have systemic lupus in addition to my AIH and PBC)
Have you had your thyroid readings checked, and been tested for Hashimoto's? I think foot pains and tingling is common for hypo. I've just begun to wonder if all my perimenopause pains were actually Hashi's or hypo, as I've only just realised my GP has not been monitoring these as closely as I'd assumed. Moral : get your results as a printout and check!
I have occasional pain in my big toe really hurts and swells, it's hard to bend at times just before the swelling comes on. I've had blood test and it's gout.
Ask your Gp to look up Gout.
Joint pain 
joint pain supplements?
Fatigue and joint pain
Pbc joint pain
