Did you know that many people have reported neck pain as a sign of COVID-19? COVID-19 can cause muscle pain, which is usually mild, and goes away on its own. But sometimes it can be severe and lead to serious complications. COVID-19 symptoms can vary from person to person. So, it is important to know the link between COVID-19 and neck pain and how to treat them. Learn how COVID and neck pain are connected and their treatment options in this article. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.

Is neck pain a sign of COVID-19?

Many conditions can cause neck pain, which also includes COVID-19. Muscle pain is a very common symptom of COVID-19. COVID can cause any body muscle to be stiff and sore, including the neck, shoulders, and back. Muscle pain, also known as myalgia, can be experienced by any coronavirus variant and mainly affects adults. While muscle pain mostly occurs in severe cases of COVID-19, some people (in mild cases) also experience pain, which is no indication of a positive or negative outlook of the disease.

According to a 2020 literature review, 11 to 62.5% of people with COVID-19 experience muscle pain and soreness. Additionally, 10 to 15% of people experienced joint pain. For the majority of people, muscle pain occurs in the neck, shoulders, and back. A more recent 2022 study reveals that COVID-19 causes similar symptoms when both the Delta and the Omicron variants were compared. The researchers found similar rates of joint and muscle pain with both variants. More than 40% of people report joint pain and 30% report muscle aches.

Two causes may cause COVID-19-related muscle pain, including neck pain. First, the virus binds the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors of the muscles, which directs each muscle and causes soreness and pain. Second, inflammation in the muscles causes pain; when a person experiences a fever, the body’s immune system stimulates a series of reactions to promote inflammation to fight the infection, which causes widespread muscle pain.

COVID-19 may also indirectly lead to muscle pain because when a person stays in bed for days, it makes the muscle feel stiff and sore.

Sometimes people develop neck pain for other reasons. For instance, a 2020 case report shows a person who was hospitalized with COVID-19 and had pain in the front of the neck where the thyroid lies. When diagnosis was performed, the person had subacute thyroiditis and hyperthyroidism. This thyroid dysfunction was found to be a complication of COVID-19.

Additionally, viral infections like SARS-CoV-2 infection (the virus that causes COVID-19) can spread to the meninges of the brain. While viral meningitis often clears on its own, bacterial meningitis can be fatal. Several people report that they experience viral meningitis due to COVID-19. If a person has meningitis symptoms, then they should seek immediate medical attention. You should visit the emergency room if you have a high fever along with any of the following:

• Very stiff neck
• Light sensitivity
• Confusion
• Personality or mood changes

What else causes neck pain?

While neck pain can be intense, it is usually not a cause of concern. Besides viral infection like cold, flu, or COVID-19, neck pain can be caused by:

• Sleeping in the wrong position.
• Bad posture.
• A pinched nerve.
• Injuries.
• Muscle spasms.
• Arthritis (a condition that causes inflammation of the joint).
• Ruptured or herniated disk.
• Cervical spondylosis (a degenerative condition that makes bones between the neck and disks deteriorate, which puts pressure on the spinal cord).
• Fibromyalgia (a condition that causes muscle pain, stiffness, and localized tenderness in the body).

Treatment options

Neck pain due to COVID-19 can go away on its own without any treatment, although you can try a few things that can ease your pain at home:

• Take plenty of rest and fluids.
• Take a painkiller like ibuprofen and paracetamol.
• Use a comfortable, low, firm pillow to lower the strain on the neck.
• Use heat and cold packs on the painful muscle.
• Massage or gently stretch the neck to reduce pain and tension.
• Don’t hold your neck too still, it is better to keep it moving with light activity.

If your pain is more severe and persistent, then you should consult with your doctor. They may recommend some medications, exercise therapy, and complementary therapies.

People with medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or conditions that weaken the immune system, are the ones who can get additional treatments like Paxlovid and monoclonal antibody therapy. If a person has an underlying health condition and comes in contact with SARS-CoV-2, they should contact the doctor.

For people with long COVID, the doctor will focus on alleviating their symptoms because there is no specific treatment that works for everyone with long COVID. Research is still underway to better understand this condition.

Neck pain is a common symptom of COVID-19 because it commonly causes muscle aches and joint pain. COVID-19 has been known to cause neck pain, however, it usually goes away on its own after a few days and weeks, when the virus goes away. In the meantime, you can use the above-mentioned treatment options to improve your COVID-related neck pain and improve your quality of life. In case you experience persistent or severe neck pain, contact a doctor.

If you need help with neck pain, visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!If your pain needs professional assistance, visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn today or call to get a consultation. Our location at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 is well-served by public transportation, including many bus routes, and the subway line. Visit our website at https://doralhw.org/department/pain-management/ or contact us on +1-347-384-5690 for additional details.