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.

Take Charge of Your Recovery

Learn self-management techniques with other long haulers in the Post-COVID Support Community. Joint now on our Forever Free plan to start your recovery journey today.