Any meds to recommend for long Covid joint pain and chronic fatigue?

Yes, I was diagnosed with OA by my Orthopedic Surgeon. I just got my ANA checked by my primary care. It was negative. So I can probably call up my Ortho and at least get I cortisone shot in my right shoulder. I am a recently retired Physical Therapist and it was Osteoarthritis that caused me to retire.

Hello - I read that some "anecdata" evidence that indicated once a person stops taking LDN, LC symptoms return. I see your post is almost about a year 1/2 old, so every interested in hearing what your experience has been/was like. Thnx.

I had the chronic LC joint and severe muscle pain after being diagnosed with LC in the latter part of 2021 Docs prescribed Motrin, Tylenol and oxycodone - all to be rotated and taken every day. I was chewing Tylenol like it was candy. The meds kept the edge off, but the pain was constant. I did a six week fast in October last year hoping to reduce inflammation and other LC symptoms. I know fasting is not for everybody, but I am one who has done long fasts over the years and always seen substantial health benefits. The muscle pain diminished and then was completely vanquished. I was worried the relief from pain might be temporary but it has not returned. Still dealing with the myriad other LC symptoms but no more LC muscle pain and no more meds to address it!

@iamawriter2 [I guess iamawriter3 🙂 ] I wish I could report good news, but after a trial on LDN I experienced no improvement in any of my LC symptoms. My doc discontinued that Rx and we continued trials on other meds to attack individual symptoms. We hit on some winners. I've had marked improvement in Cardio-Pulmonary symptoms but still have them all in lower degrees of severity. I call that a win. Severe Brain Fog and Dizziness remains as most prominent and debilitating symptoms. Always something, but continuing to pursue treatment. My best to you and all here.

What meds?!? Wonderful news!

I had been previously dx with POTS and POHS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia and Hypotension).
Random heart rate spikes as high as 200 beats per minute accompanied with shortness of breath, nausea and flushing, All with little to no exertion. These episodes were followed by Post Exertional Malaise and major fatigue. For these symptoms I was prescribed Metoprolol. Typically a blood pressure medication, but can also affect heart rate. Almost immediately my heart rate and shortness of breath calmed, and nausea ceased. Prior average HR of 80’s-90’sbpm and spikes from 135-175bpm with multiple heart rate alerts daily for extended periods over 100 (Apple Watch monitor) were reduced to average HR of 60’s-70’sbpm with no spikes nor alerts. Out of everything, this was my “miracle drug”. I’m also enjoying being able to use my Apple Watch for something other than a constant heart monitor…

For flushing, I was prescribed a very low dose of Estradiol hormone replacement. My frequency and intensity of body flushes have improved to manageable. Even after 10 years, I still have the occasional menopausal hot flash, so there might be a little blending of symptoms.

Other symptoms have been heart palpitations; chest pain/pressure; ongoing shortness of breath, depression, anxiety. For depression-Rx Wellbutin (Bupropion). For anxiety-Rx Cymbalta (Duloxetine). My doc chose Cymbalta because it is also known to help [nerve] pain. I have been taking it for several weeks with one increase in dose. It appeared to be helping both anxiety and chest pain, but the chest pain seems to come back after a couple weeks.

If any of these results would be similar to your situation, I would bring the drugs up to your doc to review and/or prescribe.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
My best to you.

Yes I got Covid in Jan 2022. I’ve been through so many medications and we are back to individual meds for each symptom. But the brain fog and confusion have only gotten worse. And the past 6 or so months has really gotten worse. I forget what I’m talking about in the middle of a conversation, I’ll go to write something down and can’t remember how to spell the simplest words. The finding of words to say can be impossible sometimes times. I have big time lapse. I can’t remember if something happened yesterday or a week ago. Do you have any other these mind issues? It’s very irritating and embarrassing. Makes me not want to talk to anyone. And I’m so tired of feeling like I have to explain myself.

Do you have any brain fog? Are you forgetful where you forget what you’re saying in the middle of a conversation? Do you get confused? Do you forget what words to use or how to spell them when they’re every day words that you can spell? Do you get full body pain? What kind of pain do you get if you don’t mind me asking?

@armalone We can certainly give new meaning to the #MeToo movement!

Long COVID Onset: 9/11/2020

To begin, I am a career bookkeeper and hobbyist writer. Yeah, I know… I’m in the process of applying for Social Security Disability. (Represented by an attorney. The ONLY way to go if you’re considering it.)

Here are some COVID Journal Entries to give you my own words as I described Brain Fog along the way…

10/4/2020
Sunday was one of my worst days. Struggled to breathe all day. Yesterday was better than Sunday. Brain in a fog - very hard to focus. Still in bed now, head swimming, chest pressure/pain, yada, yada...

10/29/2020
I’m really thinking the “brain fog” thing is a real thing. My therapist said that last week she didn’t want to freak me out, but she noticed I was missing words when I was talking to her. She knew the thoughts were there, but when I tried to put them into sentences, I missed saying some words.

3/3/2021
Traffic was slow-going down State St/HWY 44 to Middleton/I-84. So slow, I was sincerely surprised when I got to Middleton thinking I already had driven through it. :O

8/25/2021 [My definition]
“Brain Fog” - inability to focus and stay on point with regular tasks of daily living. (I am a writer and haven’t been able to write anything new in almost a year [now 4] and sometimes it can take an hour or two just to cognitively read through an article…)

12/2/2021
Brain fog has affected my ability to accurately process bookkeeping functions for our e-commerce business (selling hobby greenhouse kits). My errors have cost us at least $10,000 since symptom onset.

3/4/2022
The worst part for me with the brain fog (only one of my many persistent symptoms), is that, in the moment, I think I’m doing [the task] well and then later find I missed steps in the process. IE: Toasting air because I forgot to actually put the bread into the toaster before turning it on; forgetting to process a customer’s payment - to the tune of $3000+ - before shipping out product. Sometimes discovering the error a year later and then having to go through legal channels to collect… things like that. Very frustrating for someone with OCD tendencies and a stickler for details! I feel I’m letting people down, including myself.

5/8/2024
Brain Fog has led me to continually make costly errors in our business operations. While I have seen great improvement in the majority of the cardiopulmonary symptoms, Brain Fog remains the most debilitating. Yesterday, I couldn't even remember what 9 x 7 equals nor the process to figure it out. It was a security question for [grand]parental controls for YouTube [grand]Kids :/ Everyone advises me to "write things down so you won't forget". The problem is, in the time it would take to find something to write "it" down on, "it" is long forgotten. Literally seconds from thought in and out. My husband may ask me what I'm doing, and my response is often, "I'm wandering". I can't count the times in a day I'm staring into the refrigerator or cabinet trying to figure out why. I eventually do, but the process takes up SO MUCH TIME, my days are far from efficient or productive. I struggle to have an intelligent conversation because I'm always searching for the proper words. IE:"You know, that actor who was in that movie about, you know. He was also in that movie with that actress, you know, who was in that show..." And so it goes. Every time I turn around another week [month, year] has passed, in which I rarely knew what day it was. I have absolutely no concept of time. In general, thinking is exhausting.

I could go on, but you described it very well.

I experienced ALL of the above except the time lapses after getting Covid in 3/21 and Long Covid around December. I also would put words/phrases in the wrong order, have trouble concentrating and focusing and (a big problem for work) understanding new concepts or basic directions. Much improvement since 2021, especially in the speaking coherently vein, but the remnants are still there and symptoms are exacerbated by stress.