Muscle & Joint Pain
While recovering from COVID-19, you may experience muscle and joint pain. Muscle and joint pain are common throughout our lifetime, but some people notice they have more discomfort after COVID-19 than they did before.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE
Back pain – most prevalent
Knee pain
Hip pain
Ankle pain
Shoulder/arm pain
Neck/shoulder pain
Pain in muscles of the legs
Generalized pain
POSSIBLE CAUSES
Muscle aches and pains are common with a viral illness and usually go away after the infection. Sometimes, they can last for weeks and months after. This may be due to stiffness and muscle loss with less activity after COVID-19, staying in one position for longer than usual due to fatigue, or sometimes, the body’s continued response to the virus after the infection. Speak with a member of our healthcare team about why you may be experiencing lingering muscle aches and pains after COVID-19.
SYMPTOMS
Seek immediate help from your healthcare team if any of the following apply:
You have severe pain, numbness or weakness in your arms or legs.
You’re unable to be active or exercise due to fatigue or being breathless.
You develop new symptoms such as pins and needles, worsening weakness in your arms or legs or problems with your balance.
Your joint and muscle problems have not improved after three months.
Your pain is getting worse.
MANAGEMENT
Muscle aches and pains after COVID-19 are best treated with movement. Stretching several times a day, slowly increasing your activity back up to pre-COVID infection levels, and working in gentle activities such as yoga or tai chi is the best treatment. Speak with a member of our interdisciplinary healthcare team for specific strategies to help you manage your Post-COVID muscle and joint pain.