With COVID-19, it sometimes seems like the symptoms are endless. In some cases, people complain about a lack of taste or smell. In other cases, people complain about intense body and backaches, so what should you expect if you contract the virus?

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Ooltewah has some answers, so read on.

Is Back Pain a Common Symptom of COVID-19?

Maybe not back pain specifically, but body aches are. However, back pain due to COVID-19 is, in fact, grouped in with general muscle aches or pains, which the CDC lists as an official symptom.

What might be more common with back pain is its impact on COVID-19 “long-haulers”—people who have technically recovered from COVID-19 but still experience long-term symptoms or side effects. These people have said that, even after recovery, they experienced lingering upper, middle and lower back pain. Back and muscle pains aren’t the only symptoms to watch out for when it comes to COVID-19, however, so we’ve listed some more common symptoms below.

Other Common COVID-19 Symptoms

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Why Do I Experience Back Pain When I Have a Virus?

Back pain is caused by your body’s immune system, which, when fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses, becomes inflamed. This can cause a hot, painful feeling in all areas of the back.

Having said this, having back pain doesn’t automatically mean that you have COVID-19. There are many causes of moderate to severe back pain, which we’ve listed below.

Common Causes of Back Pain

• Pulled muscle or tendon
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Injured, herniated and ruptured discs
• Stress
• Fibromyalgia

Back pain can be extremely uncomfortable and tough to deal with. If you are experiencing back pain and have been recently exposed to COVID-19, schedule a test at our AFC Urgent Care Ooltewah center ASAP. Remember, we’re here for you now and always!