Q and A

Question

Why am I having back pain?

I started my HAART six month ago and during my first three months I did not experience any side effect except that it makes me sleepy. But the last couple of three month I am having lower back pain if I woke up or if I wake up in the middle of the night. I am on TENOVIR and I read that it can damage your kidneys on a long term and I am so scared. I told my doctor about that and blood was taken and the results show that my kidneys was ok but I am very worried about this pain.

Answer

Thanks for getting in touch.

Back pain can be a result of many things. Therefore, if your doctor has done tests on your kidneys and the results show that they are ok, this means that the problem is something else. You need to refer this back to your doctor.

8 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Mika, when did you start HIV treatment and when did you first notice the back pain?

    Unfortunately back pain can have many causes. It can be a nerve issue, spinal or muscle related. Each will have a different way of being treated.

    What is the name of the HIV treatment you are taking? and what have you tried to help with the pain? e.g, pain killers, physio, rest etc…

  2. Mika

    I am also facing serious back pain after starting medication of HIV and in the past i never experienced this type of pain in my life. And i think this is becoz of HIV medicine. Doctors are also not able to find cure of my back pain. If anyone has solution please tell me

  3. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Carol, as you have done multiple HIV tests this is not HIV.

  4. Carol

    I’ve been having chronic low back pain for nearly 5 years with mild temperature constant thrush in mouth & below deck, mild flu symptoms,rashes, hairloss, growing warts & moles mainly on face, ive had 7 hiv tests carried out all negative. Something tells me it’s hiv as my immune system is very weak.

  5. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Thandi,

    As the above post explains, backpain isn’t a side effect of taking ARVs. Backpain can be caused by a lot of things, posture, sitting badly, weight, the list is extensive.
    When someone is diagnosed with HIV it can be hard to come to terms with. Are you getting any support? Talking to others who are positive might help.

    What’s important to know is that HIV is now easy to treat, people with HIV can also have normal lives. We can marry, have kids, the lot. Just give yourself some time.

  6. Thandi

    No I think they need to recheck the treatment cause, I too am having the same problem back pain, it started few months after starting the treatment, I was okay I was never sick with even flue itself, just found out about my infection while I met my fiance and he asked that we should do some test for us to know our statuses mine came positive, was shocked because nothing was wrong with me.but after I started treatment, am struggling with lot of things

  7. Lisa Thorley

    Hi James,

    Back pain isn’t a known side effect of ARVs. Please discuss this with a doctor.

  8. James

    Hi I’m HIV positive and I have three month on medication but I have a back pain ,can u please help me what is the cause?

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