Problems walking after covid

Sorry to hear your mother has problems with walking after Covid. I can't blame my walking problems on Covid but I'm pretty sure your mother is not alone and other members can share their experience with you. While you wait for members to respond I thought I would share a couple of references on the topic with you.

--- Effect of COVID-19 on Musculoskeletal Performance in Gait and the Timed-Up and Go Test: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10342244/
--- Assessment of Functional Mobility After COVID-19 in Adults Aged 50 Years or Older in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8756318/

Has your mother discussed physical therapy or suggestions that might help with her doctor or care team?

Thank you, John. We are seeing her neurologist next week but she has been getting home PT and so far it hasn’t helped. So far, no one can figure it out. Seems par for the course for long covid!!

Yes!I can barely walk after 2 1/2 years.I was perfectly healthy and walked almost 8 miles a day before this happened.I believe mine was a combination of an iron infusion and getting covid at the same time.I am going to two separate neurologists and they still have not diagnosed me with anything.We have checked for so many muscle diseases,but all my tests are coming back negative.It is scary.My legs feel like jello some days and cement others.I almost feel like Marshmallow State puffman when I walk.I also lost all the strength in the trunk of my Body.The only thing that helped me at the very beginning was steroids.It gave me the strength to walk,eat,etc,but they won't keep me on them because they have not figured out what I have yet and long term use of steroids can cause other issues.Depending on what your mom has IVIG infusions or steroids might get her back up and walking or conpletely heal her.Covid and the vaccines make the whole body go haywire.

I am so sorry to hear your story. That is awful. I hope that you find some relief soon. She was hospitalized during covid and given remdesivir and dexamethasone. She was sent home with 2 days of dexamethasone and was great until after she was done with the dexamethasone. That is when everything went downhill. I am wondering if a low dose of prednisone might help. I was also told that maybe an extended course of Paxlovid might stamp out any lingering virus causing inflammation. I wish there were a magic bullet. It seems like we all have to share the information we find since the people on these forums are often more informed than some doctors.

Wishing you all the best.

Hey There! Praying for you & your mom.

The gold antibiotic for COVID at the onset was z-pac and dexamethasone too back in 2020. (This info was given to me from a COVID Unit Nurse Practitioner). These meds are not given as much now, but, they do work.

Dexamethasone of course is a steroid. It reduces inflammation in the lungs and body. If it helped her, I like you am wondering if a low dose of prednisone would be beneficial to her.

I'm so sorry she is battling this. COVID can be so very hard on some and not so much on others. I pray she gets better.

Hugs & Prayers...

Mayo Clinic long covid testing revealed my leg muscle issues were result of communication deficit between my small nerve system in legs & my brain. Not detectable with standard Neurologist testing EMG. Covid brain inflammation destroyed normal information pathways. Physical therapy for the legs does not fix, however it can keep important blood flow. The communication with the brain has to develop new routes.

I am so sorry. I too have long Covid and though I cannot relate to the leg muscle issues, I have other issues that do not show up in bloodwork, etc., and are chronic.

Praying for you as well. Hugs & Blessings....

I have no taste or smell, brain fog since March 2020.
Fatigue, confusion & not good logic always. Drive only small local. Legs started up summer 2022....muscles seem thick
and "wooley". Handling and planning social gatherings, details, overwhelming.
Loss of hair....and super dry hair, skin,nails, eyes etc. But all exhaustive tests of every kind are normal. I resent this new me.....even grieve my old normal self. But LIFE IT IS. Praise God I do have a life.

How does the brain develop new routes? Does this happen organically over time even in an 80 year old?

Thank you!!

Call Dr. Spencer at Minimally Invasive Procedure Specialists. You need an mrv of your pelvic area to see if you have iliac vein compression. Good luck.