Covid survivors experience mental, muscle pains for months

KABUL (Pajhwok): Coronavirus survivors experience mental problems for three months and muscle pains, numbness or tingling in hands and feet for almost 10 months, studies suggest.

Iran’s Mehr News Agency published a report titled “Incidence of long-term nerve damage in those who have recovered from Covid-19”.

The report quoted Medicine Net as saying: “A new study shows that pain, needles, tangling and numbness in hands and feet are possible to occur for weeks or months after recovery from Covid-19.”

It added: “More than 1,550 patients were examined at the University of Washington medical campus over a 10-month period early in the pandemic.” According to the study, those who tested positive for Covid-19 are three times more likely to develop pain, numbness or tingling in their hands and feet than those who tested negative for the virus.

Another study also claims that long-term mental problems had been found in Covid-19 sufferers even after recovery, lasting at least six months.

Mehr News Agency quoted Science Daily as saying: “The first round of results showed that while many patients have recovered, the majority of patients still had some neurological symptoms after six months.”

“Following the mild and severe symptoms of the virus, 56 people with neurological symptoms between October 2020 and October 2021 were selected for the study. They completed a mental examination, cognitive assessment, self-report and optional brain scan.”

The baseline measurements were taken a few months after their initial infection and repeated three and six months later.

The source continued: “During the first visit, 89 percent of the participants of this study reported fatigue, 80 percent reported headache. Other common mental symptoms included memory impairment, insomnia and decreased concentration.”

Dr. Hashmatullah Faizi, an official at the Afghan-Japan Hospital, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “There is a term called Covid-long, when Covid-19 lasts more than a month. An individual infected with Covid-long has breathing problems and shortness of breath at times. Such an individual tends to be very nervous and gets angry soon.”

He added a Covid patient, in addition to suffering from muscle pains, also had his/her liver severely damaged.

Faizi explained: “A major Covid-19 problem, which spans more than six months, is lung fibrosis. This means he/she must take oxygen continuously. Without oxygen, his/her lungs cannot improve.”

He said negative effects of the disease included harm to the patient’s psyche. After being diagnosed with it, the person should consult a psychologist.

“For a Covid-19 patient, sleep and healthy food are important. Those who can’t sleep can rely on taking sleep pills and yogurt, pickles and vinegar to stimulate appetite,” he suggested.

Dr Mohammad Hashim Wahaj, director of a private hospital, told Pajhwok: “Negative effects on a patent may stay even if he/she tests negative, has no active virus and recovered.”

He said even after their recovery from the pandemic, the sufferers’ bodies became weak. Besides weakness, they feel exhausted and their nerves do not work properly. These symptoms may last months.

Wahaj said: “In order to overcome these symptoms, a coronavirus survivor must first calm his mind and say, I’m healthy. Second, he must do exercise regularly and third, he must eat a variety of food items, especially fruits and vegetables.”

He advised survivors to eschew consuming harmful things, such as carbonated and energy drinks, as well as cigarettes.

sa/mud