When Pain or Weakness Lingers After COVID-19

After surviving COVID-19, some people are left with pain, numbness, or weakness in their hands, feet, arms, or legs. While some of the causes of these nerve-damage symptoms are known— including inflammation from the body’s immune response and hematomas caused by blood thinners used for COVID-19 treatment— doctors have been at a loss as to what to do about them. A new

review proposes Radiology a good first step: a high-resolution ultrasound or a magnetic resonance neurography. A damaged nerve in one place can trigger symptoms elsewhere, but these imaging methods can pinpoint the exact location and nature of the injury. Depending on what is revealed, treatment might include pain medication, physical therapy, immunotherapy, or surgery.