Having overcome the virus, you might find that you’re still suffering from:
These are just some of the long term side effects of COVID which are varied and can be complex. We recommend you address these issues sooner rather than later to help you get back to your normal self.
It has been determined by the NICE guidelines, that somebody who has suffered from COVID and has developed symptoms that have lasted longer than, or started after 12 weeks has long COVID.
The research as of yet is inconclusive on exactly how COVID impacts your body. However, as a virus, we know that it impacts your brain function, lung function, immune system, and metabolism.
This means that it could cause abnormal clotting, scarring, or damage to certain tissues including organs like the lung or heart.
It could also increase your natural immune response making it overactive. This can cause long term health conditions that are not directly related to COVID.
The NICE guidelines state that if you have any issues with your heart or lungs after catching COVID, you should seek a medical assessment and advice to make sure that there isn’t something going on in your body that could negatively impact your life long term.
Additionally, it’s difficult to know how long your symptoms might last, as it could be between 6 to 8 months according to the research.
We’ve already treated quite a few long COVID patients and helped them manage their journey through rehabilitation. Some of these patients didn’t even know that their symptoms were directly linked to their COVID diagnosis.
At Hatts, we have created an in-depth Physiotherapy assessment to identify your different signs and symptoms and create a plan to manage them moving forward. This might include manual Physiotherapy treatment, Massage, and in particular, a specialised rehabilitation programme to work on your lung function, heart function, dizziness, balance and fatigue symptoms.
I am 72 years old and last year I had two ‘attacks’ of Guillian Barre Syndrome which was triggered by COVID. This affected my legs and I had to learn how to walk again. I was strongly recommended Physio and rehab so I went to Hatts – initially once a week and now fortnightly. The treatment has proved invaluable, and I can now walk for an hour using light support from walking poles. I would definitely recommend professional help in general, and Hatt in particular.
The first step is to work out which symptoms you are experiencing, how long you’ve had them, and how severe they are.
If you have any heart or lung related issues, you should speak to a specialist. If you’re having difficulty breathing, taking deep breaths will help to relieve symptoms. Take a look at the NHS website or speak to us at Hatts about how you can do deep breathing exercises.
If you have any aerobic limitations, for example, if your struggling to walk to the shops, then always remember to pace yourself. If you’ve got any aches and pains, look to apply heat or ice, and speak to a loved one to help massage any areas that hurt as this will really help to relieve your symptoms.
If you are suffering from long COVID, you don’t need to deal with it alone. We’re here to help and can offer either in-clinic or online Physio and Rehabilitation to help get you back to better health.
If you’d like to speak to a member of our team for more information, please feel free
to contact us on 01380 730473