Muscle pain during COVID-19. «He was so strong I couldn’t touch myself»

«I was kneeling on the floor in desperation, but I was not relieved. The pain was so severe that I couldn’t even touch myself. I experienced something similar only during the birth ”. Grażyna will never forget the muscle pain that was a symptom of COVID-19. What does muscle pain with coronavirus infection show? What is best to do when it appears? We asked Dr. Lidia Stopyra, a specialist in paediatrics and infectious diseases, for her opinion.

1. Grażyna, who had COVID-19: suddenly I had such severe muscle pains, the pain was so severe that I was not even able to touch myself
2. Muscle pain is considered a less common symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection. They appear in several / over a dozen percent of patients
3. What to do when muscle pain occurs? Dr. Lidia Stopyra: let’s stay at home and give up any contact with others – we can infect, remember to drink a lot
4.  Dr. Stopyra: We suffer from muscle pain, but it is not a life-threatening symptom, such as respiratory failure. So we should not be afraid, but wait for the symptoms to pass
5. More information about COVID-19 and the related situation can be found on the TvoiLokony home page

“I experienced something similar only during the birth”

– First there was a general breakdown and pain in the neck – she was numb as if she had had a bad night’s sleep. However, the real nightmare began on the fourth day and it was like a bolt from the blue – says Grażyna, who recently contracted COVID-19.

The disease itself was quite mild. The woman used only teleports, fortunately hospitalization was not necessary. However, the muscle pain that accompanied her during COVID-19 infection will never be forgotten.

Suddenly my muscles aches so bad that I couldn’t lie down, let alone sleep. I knelt on the floor in desperation, but felt no relief. The pain was so severe that I couldn’t even touch myself, and the only possible position for me was to stand and not come into contact with anything. The pain was throbbing, running from the loins, through the spine to the neck. I experienced something similar only during childbirth, she tells us. The pain subsided after about three days. – I know that not everyone develops this symptom, but for me the pain in my muscles was very bad. I never thought that it could take such a form – says our interlocutor today.

Contrary to fever, fatigue or dry cough, muscle pain is considered a less common symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, as you can see in the story above, they can be a source of suffering, or at least a great deal of discomfort.

1. What are the common and atypical symptoms of COVID-19? [WE EXPLAIN]

Why were these pains so strong for Grażyna? What is best to do when we start to feel them? Are they cause for concern? Translates Dr. Lidia Stopyra, specialist in paediatrics and infectious diseases.

Further part under the video.

Muscle pains with COVID-19 – where do they come from?

In a few or over a dozen percent of COVID-19 patients, very severe muscle pains actually develop. – In this case, we can also deal with skin hypersensitivity and only the lack of contact with any stimulus brings relief. Hyperalgesia means excessive pain sensation and hypersensitivity to various tactile stimuli, explains Lidia Stopyra.

Where does muscle aches come from with coronavirus infection? – It is associated with some damage to the muscles by the virus and irritation of pain receptors – sometimes indicators of this damage appear in laboratory test results, but not always – explains the specialist.

It’s worth noting that muscle pain with COVID-19 is not fundamentally different from that of other infections. – We cannot make a diagnosis on the basis of this symptom. We should also remember that not all patients react to pain in the same way – it can be seen in various diseases. There are those who have a low pain threshold and suffer with a slight pain signal, and others who endure a lot. It cannot be determined objectively – the feeling of pain is subjective.

In case of muscle pain, an electric heating blanket may also prove useful, as it has a relaxing effect. You can find it on Medonet Market.

Do you have muscle aches, are you afraid that it is COVID-19? The doctor advises what to do

In times of a pandemic, the first thought that will arise when our muscles start to ache will probably be: I have coronavirus. Dr. Lidia Stopyra warns against such thinking. – The first thing we should do then is stay at home and give up any contact with others – we can infect. – I do not meddle with drugs and I do not go to work, the pain in my muscles makes me suspect an infection. It doesn’t have to be a symptom of COVID-19, but it may.

In such a situation, in addition to staying at home, remember to drink a lot. – If the body becomes dehydrated and acidified, and it is additionally favored by fever and lack of appetite, these pains will intensify even more after exercise – says the doctor. “If the pain is severe, you should also take a painkiller,” he adds.

1. WHO has developed a guide for convalescents. He points to signals that are better not to be taken lightly

A warm bath or, as in the case of Grażyna, warming ointments can also help – anything that will help you relax your muscles. It is also worth reaching for the Tadé Pays du Levant heart-shaped massage stone and using it to massage sore muscles.

– Remember, we suffer from muscle pain, but it is not a life-threatening symptom, such as respiratory failure – says Dr. Stopyra. – So we should not be afraid, but wait for the symptoms to pass. They usually last two or three days, rarely longer if we take good care of ourselves during this period.

Mentholk extra gel with cooling effect will be helpful in case of muscle aches. The product soothes unpleasant pain and has anti-inflammatory, nourishing and regenerating properties.

You may be interested in:

1. The most dangerous symptom of COVID-19. It cannot be taken lightly
2. Coronavirus in children. How do you know when something is wrong? Important advice from a pediatrician
3. COVID-19 and the flu share many of the same symptoms. How to tell them apart? [WE EXPLAIN]