Life After COVID: Treating Muscular Weakness and Fatigue

The world has been turned upside down by the outbreak of COVID-19. In the space of just a few months, this new virus has spread around the globe, causing widespread illness and death. The full extent of the long-term impact of COVID-19 is still not known, but it is clear that life after COVID will be very different from life before.

For many people, the most immediate concern is the effect of the virus on their health. Long COVID is a real phenomenon, and thousands of people are still suffering from fatigue, breathlessness, and other symptoms months after being infected. The pandemic has also had a profound impact on our mental health, with rates of anxiety and depression rising sharply. It is clear that life after COVID will be defined by these long-term effects.

Long Covid Syndrome: Are you at Risk?

While anybody can develop long-term COVID-19 symptoms, some individuals are susceptible to the condition, which has come to be known as "long COVID":

• Individuals who are obese or severely overweight

• Individuals with pre-existing mental health issues

• Individuals with high blood pressure

• Individuals with any underlying health condition

• Individuals who had to be hospitalized or needed ventilator support during Covid-19

However, the researchers claim that the current findings or factors can not be definitive since the Covid-19 virus keeps on emerging with new variants with new symptoms during Covid and Post Covid Syndrome.

For further details on forms of Long Covid visit https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20220802/long-covid-three-forms-study

Symptoms Of Long COVID

Although many patients who have Covid-19 recover quickly, the virus's symptoms might continue for a few weeks or months in other cases. This is referred to as "long Covid."

For some, it may appear to be a never-ending cycle of improvement followed by getting worse again. These long-term symptoms are not limited to individuals who required hospitalization or who felt extremely ill when they initially were infected with the virus.

Coronavirus can cause the following common symptoms:

• Fatigue or tiredness

• Muscle pain or joint pain

• Breathlessness or shortness of breath

• Persistent dry cough

• Chest tightness or chest pain

• Heart palpitations (pounding heart)

• Change in your sense of smell or taste

• Difficulty sleeping

• Anxiety and depression

• Difficulty concentrating or thinking

• Upset stomach

While we still have a lot to learn about this new condition, early data shows that many of these symptoms will improve with time. This is especially true if patients receive timely rehabilitative care during their recovery and cooperate with a COVID recovery team. After recovering from a COVID-19 infection, patients who endure severe or debilitating post-COVID fatigue, muscular weakness, ongoing pulmonary issues, or impairments in mood and well-being may benefit from rehab treatment.

If you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms or some other more serious symptoms, see a healthcare provider about a specific treatment plan.

Why Does COVID-19 Cause Muscle Weakness and Fatigue?

COVID-19 research is helping in the development of a more complete picture of the effects of the novel coronavirus on the body, as well as the causes of long-term COVID-19 symptoms such as prolonged fatigue and muscular weakness.

Muscular weakness

You may have lost significant muscle strength if you have spent a long time in bed because of COVID-19. This is especially true for the elderly, who can lose up to 10% of their muscle strength in only one week of bed rest. Core and upper leg muscles can atrophy quickly, making it difficult to sit up, walk, and even breathe properly.

COVID-19 appears to induce genuine muscle damage in addition to this process (also known as "deconditioning"). According to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), muscle tissue breakdown, or rhabdomyolysis, may be a side effect of COVID-19 in certain people.

Post-COVID Fatigue

Some COVID-19 "long-haulers," as they've come to be known, suffer from post-COVID fatigue. Severe exhaustion, "brain fog," issues with short-term memory, and other symptoms can occur. Post Covid Fatigue may just be a natural reaction to a severe viral infection. The body's resources have been exhausted in the fight against the COVID-19, and it needs rest and healing time. It might also be a lingering response to the coronavirus, even though you have recovered from the illness.

Other factors may contribute to the initial fatigue caused by COVID-19 in some individuals. For example, if you have been unable to get out of bed, it is possible that a lack of physical activity and a disrupted daily routine have disturbed your sleep patterns, causing you to become even more fatigued.

Treatment Options For Post Covid Fatigue

Because experts don't completely understand why post-covid fatigue occurs, there are no clear treatments. Instead, treatment generally focuses on symptom management.

Management of post covid symptoms includes the following treatments:

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can help you if you have muscle weakness. During recovery, your physical therapist (PT) will design a personalized exercise program that will help you regain muscle strength, flexibility, and tone. The emphasis will be on doing basic daily activities, strength training, and physical exercise to assist you in returning to regular life as soon as possible following COVID-19. Depending on your present strength and range of motion, you might begin by practicing sitting up in bed without assistance, standing up, walking, or walking upstairs.

This fitness routine will be progressive to ensure that you develop consistently but at a manageable rate. You will be constantly observed while you perform these exercises to ensure that you do not overdo them. It is also important for patients recovering from Covid-19 not to over-exert themselves, since this might result in increased fatigue and other setbacks. Before and after each treatment session, your physical therapist will assess your blood pressure, pulse, oxygen levels, and heart rate to ensure that you are safe and stable.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy will assist you in continuing activities that you do in your daily life. This might include dressing yourself up, preparing your own meals, or managing your medicines. If you have brain fog or cognitive impairment due to post-COVID fatigue, your occupational therapists will also work with you on mental training exercises to strengthen your mental abilities.

Mental Health Support

Long-term COVID-19 symptoms can be physically and mentally devastating. You should expect to get counseling and assistance throughout a post-COVID recovery program that helps you deal with your symptoms and manage the stress and worry that comes with recovering from such a serious illness. You may also be given suggestions on how to reduce fatigue by developing healthy sleep habits and changing your daily routine.

Post-COVID Fatigue IV Therapy

Getting IV therapy can also help fight your fatigue and muscle symptoms and make you feel better than before. It is the most effective method to combat fatigue symptoms and replenish your immune system after you have suffered from the coronavirus. Through this IV therapy, electrolytes, minerals, fluids, antioxidants, and vitamins are delivered straight into your bloodstream, helping in relieving fatigue and muscular weakness, improving your respiratory health, and reducing your recovery time.

5 Simple Ways To Treat Muscle Weakness and Fatigue Associated with Long Covid Syndrome

There are other ways by which you can expect to recover effectively by working on certain specific activities regularly at a personal level. Remember, to always start slow and then gradually increase the intensity of your activities in order to avoid unnecessary exertion.

1. Exercise on a Regular Basis

According to experts, the best thing we can do to cope with long COVID is to exercise. Even a short walk might be beneficial. Endorphins are released during exercise, which reduces tension and increases our sensation of pleasure. When frustration builds, exercise serves as a relief valve for adrenaline. If the air quality outside is poor, consider watching a yoga or workout video inside your house.

Also, make sure that you get a good night's sleep every day.

2. Eat a Healthy Diet

Another important practice is to follow a nutrient and supplement-rich meal plan to aid with recovery. The COVID infection exposes the body to a great deal of stress, and the medications can also debilitate your body. To compensate for the loss of appetite, try to maintain a well-organized eating routine rich in organic foods, vegetables, eggs, and safe poultry.

3. Pay Attention to Any Warning Signs

Whether it's a persistent headache or extreme fatigue symptoms, it's important to pay attention to any visible signs that your body isn't approving the post-COVID condition. If any of these symptoms arise during the post-recovery phase, get in touch with your primary care physician.

4. Try Relaxation Techniques

These can assist with fatigue by promoting a healthy sleep pattern and reducing stress. Consider attempting practices like aromatherapy, mindful meditation, yoga, tai chi, and other relaxing activities like reading or taking a long shower or bath.

5. Plan, Prioritize and Delegate.

Plan

Plan each day ahead of time so that you can do what you need to do and consider what may be delegated to others. Create a pattern and try to prevent 'boom and bust' behavior, in which you are incredibly busy on 'good' days and then feel tired the next. This is when an activity diary might come in handy.

Prioritize

You may also choose which activities are the most essential to you. If this is an important task, complete those activities when you have the most energy.

Delegate

Consider areas where you can conserve energy, such as online shopping rather than going to the store or cooking ahead of time for the week when you are busy.

Finally, make sure you're doing something you like; such activities may be energizing.

Final Closing Thoughts

Follow the few simple steps as mentioned in this blog post, and you will surely feel a significant improvement in your overall health. However, if you are still not sure about your symptoms, then it is always the right decision to consult a doctor on first priority.