Did PAXLOVID also relieve your arthritis and autoimmune symptoms?

My knee pain was gone for 30 days.

Hi, yes I have definitely found that Paxlovid has profoundly positive effect on my psoriatic arthritis and a long list of additional autoimmune diseases. I have been on Paxlovid now twice. Once in 2021 And am on it now. My pain was gone not just dulled down but gone. After my first dose today I felt better tonight I have no pain at all. My understanding is that long term use isn’t possible because it would cause damage to a variety of organ. My theory is that there is a deeper virus that is more embedded in our systems that is causing the autoimmune diseases and it reacts to the Paxlovid and retreats, for me about 3 months, and then gradually the underlying virus, which hid, re-emerges causing the autoimmune system to become activated. I am not a doctor or scientist. I read an article about Gullian Berra and how many people may have the virus dormant in their system and not know they have ever had it and that perhaps it may be causing some of the autoimmune problems we all are experiencing. Not sure if it is just that virus but if enough of the people that are dealing with a autoimmune disease are having a change to the pain/symptom's I think it would be an interesting line of research. How many people dealing with autoimmune diseases are tested for background viruses? Is there even a test? Probably a test for Gullian Barre might be a good place to start.

YES! I have osteoarthritis. COVID for the first time and currently on Paxlovid. It's the only thing I'm taking besides Tylenol and inhalers. I noticed a difference in my arthritis symptoms on day 2 of the Paxlovid. It's Day 5 and NOTHING HURTS. I can close my hands and get up from a chair without ANY issues. Honestly, this feels like a miracle. We'll see how quickly the pain returns once I'm off the Paxlovid. You are not crazy.

Greetings,
Many of us are in this situation: pre-existing autoimmune/arthritis pain WENT AWAY when we took Paxlovid. This is not about Long Covid, nor about post-Covid disease.

Our doctors -- PCPS and rheumatologists-- will not follow-up on this lead.
Some of us have contacted Pfizer, the manufacturer. No Response.
I contacted a local radio doctor. No response.
I emailed the NIH. No response.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what we can try next? This is breaking my spirit.

Hi,

It’s been a few years since I had COVID, but I felt the same thing.

Have you ever been tested for Epstein Barr? I am trying to get my PCP to do this since this virus can stay in the body a long term and I am wondering if that is what your antiviral is helping?

Yes, I got the 15 days of paxlovid during a trial and it helped while I was on it. Amazon health does Covid telehealth visits and writes prescriptions, helpful to those who are housebound and need medical support.

I took paxlovid a few years ago when I got covid and was surprised that my OA symptoms in my hip completely disappeared while I was taking it. The pain stayed away for about a month and then slowly returned. My orthopedic and physician didn't know what to say when I mentioned it.

I just search the web for information and found you! I was diagnosed with Covid yesterday and took Paxlovid
I woke up this morning and my joints feel fabulous! Knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders! I’m overwhelmed! It feels so good not to hurt. I almost don’t feel the stuffy nose and minor headache from the Covid! Wow, wow wow what can we do to get this for treatment for arthritis! I also have an immune disease. Warmly, Cinthia.

Yay! Just know it will probably just last for 30 days or so. And...your doctors will look at you funny when you mention it! They don't know how remarkable it is for us to be out of pain for awhile. I understand that long term use of Paxlovid is not an option because it can damage your organs. My hope is that they will start experimenting with this to see WHY it works on pain. We just have to get the company's attention!

Finally! I have been all over the internet, into all the major medical research data bases, looking for some information as to why both my partner and I did not have our usual pains when we had Covid and took Paxlovid and Pepcid. We had Covid pains, but they were different; more flu-like muscle pains. He was much sicker than I. My doctor's PA advised I could stop the Paxlovid sooner than five days, so I only took it for 3.5 days due to the nausea. My partner's pre-Covid pain (damaged ulner nerve, arthritis, chondritis) has returned in force. My fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue symptoms have remained about 40% improved from August 17th, when my covid began. My arthritis pain remains the same. I stopped the daily Pepcid after my cough subsided. The only pain flare I have had is after my newest covid vaccine--I awoke at 4:00 am having a fever and auditory hallucinations of a minor sort, with whole-body pains at about the level of 8 or 9 on a 10 scale. Never had this reaction to any vaccine except as a baby. However, the vaccine ran its course in about 12 hours. Back to 40% improvement. Fatigue still a problem, both cognitive and physical, but I can now do housework for two to four hours with only minor breaks, so some improvement. Also walking up and down hills with less effort. I should note that I also have vaginal herpes, and when I took acyclovir 4 times daily (a supression dose) under supervision of my vulvar care specialist, I began to feel somewhat better from my fibro and chronic fatigue. However, I stopped the protocol because of over-producing urine, which meant my kidneys were too stressed. Since I have some age-related kidney slowing of function, I backed off of this approach. Once a month I take a course dose of either oregano oil or garlic oil, both of which have some anti-viral capacities and help my Sibo. Slowly, my fibromyalgia has improved over the last four years with other lifestyle interventions as needed. PEA can help with the pain but it takes about three weeks to see any results. I believe my auto-immune, inflammatory process problems originated with a possible bout of non-paralytic polio when I was a child and any buildup of virus can cause flares. My adult child informed me about Mast Cell Activation Syndrome; hence my taking Pepcid for Covid and coughs, as this medicine is also a mast cell stabilizer as well as an antihistamine. It is being researched in China as a possible Covid treatment. I sincerely hope all this detail helps someone, as you all have helped me!