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Long COVID

Long COVID

Long COVID, sometimes called Post-COVID Conditions, refers to the symptoms and long-term effects some people experience after recovering from an initial COVID-19 infection.

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What is Long COVID?

Long COVID includes a variety of symptoms that can persist for weeks or even months after the initial symptoms of a COVID-19 infection have abated. Although still being researched and understood, current data indicate that a more severe case of COVID-19, or infection without having received a vaccine, is more likely to result in symptoms of Long COVID.

Only a relatively small percentage of people infected with COVID-19 go on to develop Long COVID symptoms, and it’s important to note that Long COVID is not a single specific illness. Diagnosing Long COVID requires an in-depth understanding of your medical history and the circumstances of your initial infection.

What are the symptoms of Long COVID?

Long COVID can present a wide variety of symptoms that affect many parts of the body, including the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, and neurological processes.

Some of the general symptoms of Long COVID include:

  • Extreme tiredness or fatigue
  • Fever
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Rashes
  • Changes in menstrual cycles
  • Worsened symptoms after mental or physical exertion

Respiratory Symptoms

  • Shortness of breath
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Persistent cough

Cardiovascular Symptoms

  • Chest pain
  • Excessive heart rate
  • Heart palpitations

Digestive Symptoms

  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain

Digestive Symptoms

  • Difficulty thinking or concentrating
  • Headache
  • Sleep problems
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness when standing
  • Change in senses of smell or taste
  • Depression
  • Anxiety

Signs of Long COVID can also include symptoms that are difficult to describe, similar to the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

What causes Long COVID?

It’s not yet fully understood what causes Long COVID. However, CDC data indicates that there are certain circumstances that make Long COVID more likely to develop in specific patients.

Long COVID can only present after an initial COVID-19 infection, even if you experienced mild to no symptoms or never received a positive test result. Developing Long COVID is relatively rare, with the majority of patients recovering from their initial infection with no additional or persistent symptoms.

A severe case of COVID-19 or an infection prior to vaccination is more likely to result in developing Long COVID, especially if you were hospitalized for your symptoms. Other risk factors include underlying health conditions prior to the initial infection and multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS).

How is Long COVID treated?

Because Long COVID can present a wide variety of symptoms and severities, treatment plans are typically determined on an individual patient basis. If you believe you’re suffering from Long COVID, your primary care physician will likely run various tests and examinations and then refer you to specialists to determine the best path forward to manage your symptoms.

Depending on the severity of the case, symptom management, and treatment may include physical therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, mental health counseling, and medications for treating anxiety, depression, or brain fog.

Paxlovid is the primary treatment for COVID-19, but researchers are still unsure if it’s effective against Long COVID. Clinical trials are currently underway to better understand if and how Paxlovid can treat Long COVID.

AZ Pain and Spine Institute
Long COVID Treatments

Here at Arizona Pain and Spine Institute, we improve our patients’ quality of life by alleviating and managing their pain. Some of our Long COVID treatments include:

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Why choose AZ Pain and Spine Institute to treat your Long COVID?

We have a team of medical practitioners, pain management doctors, and staff who are experts on pain management, including Long COVID. We use state-of-the-art technology and effective approaches in achieving our mission. We care about your well-being and are committed to making your life pain-free.

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