1. < Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19

Did PAXLOVID also relieve your arthritis and autoimmune symptoms?

Posted by annewoodmayo @annewoodmayo, Jul 15, 2023

Hi, everyone

I have been diagnosed with autoimmune diseases.
The diagnoses have changed over time (lupus, not lupus, spondyloarthropathy, akylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Raynaud's, Sjorgren and maybe others that I have forgotten... sorry about the spelling).

When I took Paxlovid for Covid, many of my symptoms disappeared or were significantly reduced.

Has this happened to anyone else?

I'm thinking that perhaps my autoimmune disease is somehow based on a VIRUS, since paxlovid is an anti-viral and it was like a miracle cure for my symptoms.

I told my rheumatologist about it, but I couldn't get her to focus on the logical connection between the anti-viral (paxlovid) and the reduction in my symptoms. It was very frustrating. I actually cried in my car after the appointment.

I think this could be a game-changing piece of evidence in my medical treatment and diagnosis. And maybe for other autoimmune disease sufferers, too! But I don't know where to turn with this evidence.

What do you think I should do? What doctor should I go to?
My primary care doctor probably won't offer anything; he never intervenes in my rheumatological care.

Please let me know if you had the same experience: an anti-viral medication (paxlovid or another one) reduced your autoimmune/arthritis symptoms.

I searched around online, and it was hard to find and hard to understand information there. In the CDC's PubMed, I found one source that indicates the possibility that immune suppressing medications can reactivate the Epstein Barr virus in some patients. Epstein Barr causes fatigue, among other symptoms, but fatigue is one of my worst symptoms.

Thanks!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

lizao | @lizao | Feb 21 1:18pm

Exactly. The inflammation was reduced in all the joints I had arthritis.

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katiewall7 | @katiewall7 | Feb 22 8:11am
In reply to @bpahwa "YES!!! The same thing happened to me! I was in so much pain for almost 2..." + (show)
@bpahwa

YES!!! The same thing happened to me! I was in so much pain for almost 2 years after the COVID booster shot. I knew something was wrong after I took that booster. Kept getting random pains all over my body. Then last summer it became the worst where I could barely walk because my legs felt like someone had poured lead into them and would get so painful. Then I got diagnosed with COVID and was prescribed PAXLOVID. Just after 2 dozes I woke up one morning a new woman. All aches and pains gone! I had forgotten what it was like to be pain free. I wanted to run around and jump like a kid! I'm 67 years old....
I've been trying to get my doctors to give some sort of diagnosis as to what is going on. PAXLOVID was 6 months ago and the pains have returned - no diagnosis. I hired a personal trainer in the hope that more exercise and a diet would help with the stiffness and pain. But it's hard to workout when you are IN so much pain.
The doctors just keep running tests and all come ack negative. Which is a good thing but also frustrating.
I'm almost to the point where I want to go to a country where I can get a another series of PAXLOVID from the pharmacy without a prescription and just take it. I KNOW this is some sort of an infection...

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I had exactly the same reaction to vaccine then covid with paxlovid relief now back but symptoms are pins and needles burning and shooting pains in my feet for almost 2 years now keeps waking me up at night

I also don’t know where to turn. Gp says from my back but i have no back pain

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2 replies
postgm | @postgm | Feb 24 1:56pm

Yes! I googled if this was a thing and your article came up. I felt great. Even though I had COVID.

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12cedar | @12cedar | Feb 24 9:35pm
In reply to @katiewall7 "I had exactly the same reaction to vaccine then covid with paxlovid relief now back but..." + (show)
@katiewall7

I had exactly the same reaction to vaccine then covid with paxlovid relief now back but symptoms are pins and needles burning and shooting pains in my feet for almost 2 years now keeps waking me up at night

I also don’t know where to turn. Gp says from my back but i have no back pain

Jump to this post

I had pins and needles in my feet at night. Started taking Vitamin B complex and the symptoms went away in about a week. Also socks on feet at bedtime. Hope your goes away!

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1 reply
katiewall7 | @katiewall7 | Feb 25 7:02am
In reply to @12cedar "I had pins and needles in my feet at night. Started taking Vitamin B complex and..." + (show)
@12cedar

I had pins and needles in my feet at night. Started taking Vitamin B complex and the symptoms went away in about a week. Also socks on feet at bedtime. Hope your goes away!

Jump to this post

B12 and B1 did not work for me

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griffin1120 | @griffin1120 | Feb 25 9:14am
In reply to @katiewall7 "I had exactly the same reaction to vaccine then covid with paxlovid relief now back but..." + (show)
@katiewall7

I had exactly the same reaction to vaccine then covid with paxlovid relief now back but symptoms are pins and needles burning and shooting pains in my feet for almost 2 years now keeps waking me up at night

I also don’t know where to turn. Gp says from my back but i have no back pain

Jump to this post

I’m lucky because I have a mattress that elevates my legs & feet. After elevation, all pain & restlessness goes away.

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pacer3702 | @pacer3702 | Feb 25 11:37am
In reply to @12cedar "I had pins and needles in my feet at night. Started taking Vitamin B complex and..." + (show)
@12cedar

I had pins and needles in my feet at night. Started taking Vitamin B complex and the symptoms went away in about a week. Also socks on feet at bedtime. Hope your goes away!

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A caution about B complex supplements: Excessive intake of vitamin B6 can cause peripheral neuropathy.

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darceysue710 | @darceysue710 | Feb 26 12:36am

Did you take paxlovid just for your Covid or long hauler symptoms

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1 reply
mghijssels | @mghijssels | Feb 27 9:47am
In reply to @darceysue710 "Did you take paxlovid just for your Covid or long hauler symptoms" + (show)
@darceysue710

Did you take paxlovid just for your Covid or long hauler symptoms

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I took paxlovid just for covid. My covid was over very quickly, without side effects.

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1 reply
darceysue710 | @darceysue710 | Feb 27 6:34pm
In reply to @mghijssels "I took paxlovid just for covid. My covid was over very quickly, without side effects." + (show)
@mghijssels

I took paxlovid just for covid. My covid was over very quickly, without side effects.

Jump to this post

Ok wondered if you just took it for long covid
Want to see if they will try it

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