Long COVID: Muscle and joint pain
You may experience pain after coronavirus, especially if you were in hospital or less active than usual as a result of the virus. Most pain should eventually go away, but sometimes it might carry on for longer. There are ways to manage pain that you may have after coronavirus (COVID-19).
Do
- plan the things you need to do each day to help you keep on top of your pain
- pace yourself – if your pain is stopping you completing a task you can try again later
- try to relax – this can be hard, but finding something which relaxes you will reduce the stress of pain
- take regular enjoyable exercise – even a small amount if you can, like going for a walk, will make you feel better and help keep your muscles and joints moving
- talk to others – such as family and friends – about pain you're experiencing and why you may need to do things differently at the moment
- do things you enjoy – this makes you feel good and can reduce pain
- speak to your community pharmacist for advice about pain management
- take prescribed medicine if advised by a healthcare professional
Non-urgent advice: Speak to your GP practice if:
- your pain is affecting your day to day life
- you're worried about your symptoms
- you're worried about possible long COVID symptoms in a child or young person under 18
Last updated:
23 November 2022
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