Is back pain a symptom of COVID-19? According to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention), sudden acute back pain isn’t a symptom of COVID-19 as such, but body ache and muscle pain can very well be.
So while you don’t necessarily need to be worried about being infected if you’re experiencing back pain, watching out for other bodily aches would be wise.
Let’s have a closer look at what doctors have to say.
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Is back pain a symptom of COVID-19?
A relatively recent survey has found people who recovered from COVID-19 experiencing long-term symptoms like lower, upper, and middle back pain. Even the CDC includes muscle ache as a common symptom of COVID-19, and back pain might be categorized as muscle ache in every sense.
An analysis of 56,000 Coronavirus patients by WHO (World Health Organization) suggested that nearly 15% of them experienced muscle ache. Doctors say that similar to other viruses, COVID-19 can also cause systemic side effects, including body ache.
Why does COVID-19 cause backache?
Whenever you fall sick, your body generates an automatic immune response. The immune cells try to get rid of the foreign particles, including viruses, and in the process, they generate interleukins that fight against the infection. Experts believe that the body ache in COVID-19 is the result of these interleukins causing inflammation.
What does back pain due to COVID-19 feel like?
Coronavirus causes a different muscle pain as compared to what you may feel after an intense workout session. It typically persists for days, unlike caused by workout, which tends to go away within hours, and the people who’ve experienced it say that it feels like cramping or spasming of back muscles. And while it can linger for a few weeks, it’s not necessarily incapacitating.
Having a backache doesn’t necessarily mean you have the infection
Although muscle ache and body pain can be a symptom of the virus, such pain can stem due to other causes as well as poor posture or too much sitting. Other reasons to be blamed can be arthritis, osteoporosis, a bulging disc, or a sports injury.
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To sum it up
Yes, body aches are among Coronavirus’ symptoms, but surely they’re not the only ones to watch out for. Along with backache if you experience other signs of COVID-19 like fever, cold, loss of taste, and smell, your doctor can guide you on being tested.
Doctors recommend taking acetaminophen to relieve pain and fever. Also, you may consider applying a heating pad to get relief from spasms. Being hydrated and taking rest is also advised.