Anyone experiencing muscle atrophy/muscle wasting due to Long COVID?

How did you notice the muscle atrophy?

Yes! I have no muscle anymore. I used to have a very physical job and now going up the stairs is exhausting.

Curious how you were diagnosed with long COVID. I have been experiencing unexplained muscle loss also, taking my aging into account. Best of luck to you.

Yes, in part, I can only give my experience. I had Covid over 4 years 9 months ago and due to postural hypotension, alongside fibromyalgia ( had before covid), fatigue etc I could do very little that involved standing…so lost the ability to do my previous 10,000 step walks daily, and loosing any conditioning. Not seen any medic.about it , as not a ‘compartment’ in my GP’s knowledge to refer to specialist. 20 months ago started swimming; thought I might manage say 10 mins a day, but in-fact found it easy so do 50 mins 5 days a week, and try to include 5 mins.of stretching/ jumping up using calves., and hand stretches. So muscles being used, supported by the water pressure, and I can feel them on arms/ ribs etc, but not much power/ strength still though as can’t open jars etc, and still can’t raise arms above head to do tasks without completely being whacked out. Some of the hardened tendons in my palm of hands have gone. I was thinking of getting a dynamometer to strengthen fingers/hands for Xmas. I don’t know what causes muscle atrophy, except lack of use… any mineral/ vitamin / amino acid shortages in diet contribute ?

Diagnosed following acute COVID infection in May 2022, difficulty breathing, new sleep apnea, brain fog, cognitive impairment, muscle pain and atrophy.

It's obvious, can see it and also no longer able to do the exercise that I used to.

I had covid and LC in March 2023 (I'm 70). With LC I had PEM and the cardiologist said to ramp down my exercise (I caught it from a cyclist on a 400 mi bike tour). My exercise dropped to 20 min. intervals with rest between, but I could still do resistance training (weights) so didn't lose too much muscle mass. Covid does seem to have damaged my endurance in that I could do 100 mi bike rides before, and now up to 30 with rest breaks. Consider getting a trainer or PT to start improving muscle mass, balance, and flexibility. Even little bits of exercise help physically and emotionally.

Hey kayabbott,
I am (was) an avid cyclist and about the same age as you. I have had a number of health issues recently, so it is hard to tell which came first, the chicken or the egg. Cardiovascular Disease, statin therapy (which has taken it's toll on me), a new hip about a year and a half ago and most recently a ruptured achilles tendon. Hard to tell what might be the major culprit of my muscle loss, maybe a combination of things. A number of blood tests haven't revealed anything yet, but muscle loss has been a concern for me. Like you, I used to cycle long distances and hope to get back into it once my achilles heals. I have an exercise bike that will surely be part of my rehab. Best of luck to you! Dennis

Best of luck to you as well. I use my exercise bike a lot, generally while watching Outlander. I bike the fastest while watching apocalypse movies and Tour de France. I suspect some of my loss of endurance is various autoimmune diseases that have ramped up. Getting old is not for sissies.

I've lost 60lb since getting covid #3 last November. I'm holding steady at 115lb with no appetite and pain after eating too much. I've learned over the past year how much to eat before the pain starts, I'm on a protonic medication every morning so that helps a little, but if I eat too much I have stomach pain n feel like crap.
I tried PT earlier this year but I had extreme PEM after each session and my Dr at the Mayo Clinic said exercise is not the answer. I don't have the energy to walk around the block. My skin is saggy and my muscles are non existent...