Most patients first realize that they have the virus with back and joint pain. Since these pains are quite common among Covid-19 patients, those who feel back, joint and muscle pain suspect that they may have contracted the coronavirus.
What are the Symptoms of Coronavirus?
The coronavirus, which started in the last period of 2019 and spread rapidly and became a pandemic, continues to affect our country and the world. Nowadays, when mask use, social distance rules and hygiene are very important, there is a lot of curiosity among individuals about the symptoms caused by the coronavirus disease. Although it usually starts with typical cold symptoms, coronavirus can actually cause different symptoms that vary in both type and severity from person to person. However, pain is among the symptoms that are common in many individuals and negatively affect daily life.
The majority of those suffering from pain seek answers to questions such as corona joint pain, what causes corona pain. Here are the most important symptoms of coronavirus and things to know about corona pains...
Covid-19 virus; It is a type of virus that can affect different people in different ways, causing serious symptoms in some individuals, while in some individuals it can be overcome without symptoms. The main symptoms seen in individuals who experience the disease symptomatic (with symptoms) are almost the same. The 3 main symptoms considered as the most common symptoms are fever, dry cough and fatigue. However, although less common, other symptoms that affect the majority of patients are as follows:
- Back, joint, muscle and body pains
- Sore throat
- Taste and Loss of sense of smell
- Diarrhea
- Red and itchy eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing
However, although rare, symptoms such as skin rashes, color changes in the hands and feet, and runny nose can be observed in some of the patients.
Do you feel any of these symptoms? The affected individual should apply to health institutions by using a mask and isolating himself from other individuals.
Severe symptoms that can be seen in individuals with a severe illness include shortness of breath, chest pain and a feeling of pressure. If such serious symptoms develop in patients who have been diagnosed with coronavirus, emergency services should be consulted.
What Causes Joint and Back Pain in Coronavirus?
Common symptoms of coronavirus infection include muscle pain or muscle rheumatism. Also known as myalgia and arthralgia, which means joint pain. According to a scientific study conducted in China; Myalgia and arthralgia developed in approximately 15% of over 55 thousand coronavirus patients.
The areas where muscle and joint pain are felt vary from patient to patient. Pain is often described by patients as variable and severe. It is often seen that after it starts to affect a certain area, it spreads throughout the body and is combined with fatigue, making daily life significantly more difficult.
When it comes to the answer to the question of what causes corona back pain or corona pain in general, it can be said that these pains are not specific to coronavirus alone. Muscle and joint pain, which is common in all infectious diseases and especially viral infections, is caused by the causative agent causing inflammation in the muscles and bones.
Another situation that is emphasized to cause pain is the coagulation problem seen in coronavirus patients. It is thought that regional pain may develop due to intravascular coagulation. In addition, the inflammatory cytokines that the immune system creates in response to the virus can also cause damage to the muscle fibers.
How Does the Pain Due to Coronavirus Feel?
The areas where muscle and joint pain are felt vary from patient to patient. The most affected areas are the back, waist, arms and legs. These pains develop without any impact or injury and can be quite severe.
- Pain usually affects the muscles rather than the joints. But especially arthritis In patients with stasis or any bone-joint disease, the pain in the joints may become much more severe with the infection of the virus, and severe corona joint pain may develop in patients who normally do not have pain problems.
- These pains that develop in the muscles or joints can be challenging. In patients who have been diagnosed with coronavirus, anti-inflammatory drugs with analgesic and antipyretic qualities are usually added to the treatment plan. The use of these drugs is effective in reducing muscle and back pain.
- In addition, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in patients who suspect that they may have coronavirus but have not yet applied for medical support may delay the diagnosis, as it suppresses the defining symptoms of coronavirus such as fever. Since this situation may cause the virus to spread rapidly to the immediate environment, especially individuals who have different symptoms that may indicate coronavirus besides pain should apply to health institutions for testing.
How Long Does Corona Pain Last? And Can It Be Permanent?
- The pain seen in Covid patients usually disappears completely within 2-3 days after recovery. However, in some cases, especially if the disease has been severe, it may take a few weeks for the damage caused by the virus to heal in the muscles and joints. Although no permanent damage has been diagnosed so far, there is no definite information about whether such a possibility exists and scientific researches are continuing.
- Even though corona is a cause of joint pain and back pain, patients who have not had a coronavirus test yet may have bursitis, tendinitis, gout attacks, arthritis and many other types of diseases. The presence of a different symptom besides the pain will strengthen the possibility of coronavirus.
- In patients who have tested positive for coronavirus, if muscle and joint pain persists a few weeks after recovery, the physician should be consulted for further investigations.
What Can Be Done for Joint and Back Pain?
Coronavirus-induced muscle, joint and back pains are similar to the pain felt after intense and challenging exercises in terms of the way they are generally felt. Although aerobic type can be relieved with light exercises after such exercise-induced pain, the situation is slightly different in coronavirus.
Patients who have mild symptoms of the disease and do not have problems such as shortness of breath or chest pressure or pain can do simple exercises at home by consulting their physician. However, these should be exercises that will not force the body too much, such as aerobic movements, that will not make breathing difficult. However, NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) type painkillers prescribed by the physician can be used.
In addition, taking a hot shower, taking bed rest, and consuming plenty of fluids are among the practices that can help relieve pain. It is beneficial for patients who have serious pain problems that continue to be severe despite such measures and switch to a different treatment method by consulting their physician. You can ask questions and ask for suggestions about your question. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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