Is Back Pain a Sign of COVID-19?

You probably know by now that general body and muscle aches are a common symptom of COVID-19, but lately, many have claimed to be experiencing intense back pain due to the virus. So, is severe back pain yet another symptom to watch out for?

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN, has some answers, so read on.

Is Back Pain a Common Symptom of COVID-19?

Back pain due to COVID-19 is grouped in with general muscle aches or pains, which the CDC lists as an official symptom.

Additionally, studies have shown that COVID-19 “long-haulers”—people who have technically recovered from COVID-19 but still experience long-term symptoms or side effects—have said that they experienced lingering back pain. Back and muscle pains aren’t the only symptoms to watch out for, though, when it comes to COVID-19. We’ve listed some more common symptoms below.

Other Common COVID-19 Symptoms

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Why Does COVID-19 Sometimes Cause Severe Back Pain?

Intense back pain is caused by your body’s immune system, which, when fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses, becomes inflamed. This can cause a hot, painful feeling in all areas of the back. To be even more specific, muscle aches and pains are a result of immune system cells releasing interleukins, which are proteins that help in the fight against invading pathogens.

Having said this, having back pain doesn’t automatically mean that you have COVID-19. There are many causes of moderate to severe back pain, which we’ve listed below.

Common Causes of Back Pain

  • Pulled muscle or tendon
  • Arthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Injured, herniated and ruptured discs
  • Stress
  • Fibromyalgia

Back pain can be extremely uncomfortable and tough to deal with. If you are experiencing back pain and have been recently exposed to COVID-19, schedule a test at our AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN ASAP! We’re here for you now and always.