Covid-19 triggering body pain issues post recovery: Docs

Dr Varsha Suryavanshi, anaesthetist in BYL Nair Hospital

Mumbai's pain management clinics are seeing a surge in patients suffering from post-COVID complications. Most of them are facing problems like brain fog, headaches, joint-pains etc, post recovery. Doctors and experts are of the opinion that while there may be many such cases, not many people are aware of the treatment and continue to live with the after-effects of the infection.

"We have seen many pain-related medico social problems associated with the pandemic and lockdowns. These patients had mild to severe forms of COVID infection," said Dr Lakshmi Vas, pain management specialist, Ashirwad Pain Relief Clinic, Dadar. She said that viral infections are known to trigger issues like myofascial pain, worsening of back issues, arthritis pain etc post recovery. "Brain fog has been one of the major complaints among COVID-19 recovered patients. Many don't know that it is a problem that can be treated at a pain management clinic," said Dr Vas.

She added that most viral infections are associated with a condition causing inflammation in muscles. "That is the reason for severe body aches. Fortunately, it subsides as the patient recovers. However, some of them like chikungunya can produce lasting pain," she explained.

Dr Preeti Doshi, pain management specialist at Jaslok Hospital, said, "I see many patients who suffer from pronounced malaise and fatigue post COVID infection. It is also known to trigger the tendency to develop blood clots and thereby leading to impaired circulation. This can result in ischaemia, which may eventually lead to conditions like gangrene of toes or fingers. Many of these patients can also suffer from post amputation phantom limb pain. COVID-19 can also result in serious neurological complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, Myelitis and Stroke, which can cause chronic nerve-related pains."

Dr Vas pointed out that nearly 40 per cent of her patients were doctors. "This was probably because doctors are aware of pain management clinics and actively sought our help. The general public has little knowledge about specialty clinics that treat pain scientifically to deliver good results. Another thing that I observed with regard to post-COVID complications is that almost all patients had Vit D3 and Vit B12 deficiency, which was treated through injections or oral medications," she added.

Dr Varsha Suryavanshi, who works as an anaesthetist at BYL Nair Hospital, had developed severe pain in shoulder, ankle joints and upper and lower limb muscles post COVID infection. "I have had rheumatoid arthritis for 15 years now and have undergone four joint replacement surgeries with both hips and knees replaced. Post recovering from COVID, I had severe joint pain. I went through the ultrasonography-guided dry needling (USGDN), which specifically addresses myofascial problems. I was pain-free after three to four sessions," said Dr Suryavanshi.

Dr Doshi, however, clarified that since there is not enough data on the onset time of pain for most of the patients, it might not be apt to attribute it as a direct consequence of the viral infection. "This may well be a coincidence or an effect of physical fatigue, psychological stress or even a result of inability to perform routine physical activities leading to stiffness of muscles and joints," she said.