Anyone experience Post-Covid Inflammatory Arthritis?

I certainly have terrible joint pain, I thought I had RA, but all tests came back normal.

I’ve never had Covid only the vaccine.

I have been having the same symptoms since September 2022 from a viral infection (could not confirm if it was COVID). All blood tests came back normal, except for inflammatory marker as positive. Muscles aching on both thighs, shoulders and tendons back of the knees. I am on Prednisone 5 mg twice a day for now, it's the only thing that relieves the pain.

Ask your Dr about hydroxychloroquine. That’s what they use for lupus. I’ve been dealing with long haul for 2 years and the joint pain was unbearable. Was normal before I got Covid. It takes 1-3 months to kick in. Starting around 3.5 for me my pain was pretty much gone. I still have the long haul but from the pain and moving better it’s helped me so much.

Developed right wrist and finger pain and swelling, especially in the thumb. I can't close the hand fully and some movements are painful. Went to the Doctor in December, who had xray and ultrasound done on the wrist. Also a battery of blood and urine tests. Xray was clear, from the ultrasound he mentioned that a tendon may be off the bone on the outside of the wrist. Possible the reason I can't fully close the baby finger. From the bloodwork and such, Vitamin D was low and liver a little high.

He sent me to a Orthopedic specialist, was there 30 second and he suggested he knew what was wrong. He asked if I had been vaccinated from Covid, which I have 2 Pfizer, 1 Moderna. He said he used to see this once a month, now twice a day, Gout in the wrist. He gave me 3 pills, one a day for three days, which brought down the swelling only, still had the pain. I have had Gout in the toes before and yes it feels similar.

Then, I had an appointment at the Hospital with a Neurologist in January, who told me that maybe some tendon damage. It was worse in the left hand but I have no issues with it, just the right. I told her about the Gout comment of which she said she wasn't a joint specialist and couldn't comment. Just wear a wrist brace when I go to bed, for 4-6 months.

Last week went back to the doctor who prescribed 2 types of pills to treat Gout, 3 a day for 3-4 days even though my Uric Acid levels seemed normal. Still didn't help... Bought some Voltaren Joint Extra Strength today, see how that work.

Funny thing about all this, is no wrist or hand injuries... been suffering this pain, swelling and lack of mobility with the hand and fingers since waking up with it in the last week of October, less than two weeks after getting over a symptomless Covid.

I developed Dupuytren’s Contracture in both hands. I’m not in the normal high risk group of over 60, male, smoker, or alcohol use. Other explanations are an inflammatory response. No one has said this is from covid but I tend to wonder.

My son had long COVID 6 months later one of his legs swollen from the knee to the ankle. He is in good shape, doesn’t smoke and not overweight. He’s never had any issues like this before. The doctors first said it was gout. Made no sense. After they tested the fluid they said it was not gout and took a blood test. They gave him a shot of cortisone, it’s been a few days and the swelling is still not down. Just waiting for the blood test results now but don’t know where to turn next.

All of the sudden got either a new covid strain in Feb of this year, or a respiratory illness, and it brought out long covid. I did not not have long covid issues initally other than some muscle pain, etc. Now it is way worse. Brain fog, etc. My blood work is normal, and just have no clue what other blood tests to get done to find out markers that show immune disregulation. It is kind of defeating to go from healthy to feeling like this. If you find any other medications people are using for long covid, etc. or blood tests, let me know. Not sure what else to do at this point as most of the doctor's scratch their heads.

My fingers were getting very painful. One of them hurt just to touch it. My nutritionist put me on 4 anti-inflammatory supplements, and an anti-inflammatory diet. The pain is almost gone. This doesn’t sound as severe as what some of you are experiencing, but I thought I was going to have trouble using my hands. I was already having difficulty opening simple things.

What were the 4 anti-inflammatory supplements you were given?

Designs for Health brand:
1. Quercetin Ascorbate (500 mg quercetin + 500 Mg Vitamin C
2. ImmunoMod-A (curcumin, NAG, & andrographis
3. OmegAvail Hi-Po (1600 mg 1:1 EPA-DHA)
Biotics Research brand:
ReservaSirt-HP