Fibromyalgia Symptoms May Be Common Among People with Long-Haul COVID
People with fibromyalgia are all too familiar with its often-debilitating symptoms, which include widespread muscle and joint pain, fatigue, insomnia, and brain fog. Now a new study confirms that similar symptoms often arise in people with post-COVID syndrome.
Post-COVID syndrome — also known as long COVID, long-haul COVID, and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) — refers to health problems that persist in a subset of people who have technically recovered from COVID-19 (meaning they no longer have an active infection). This condition isn’t a single, specific health problem but rather a mix of symptoms that can vary widely from person to person. Long COVID might include organ damage, depression, persistent loss of taste and smell, or any other new health issue that crops up in the wake of COVID-19.
Post-COVID syndrome might also include neurological problems like fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and brain fog. This constellation of symptoms, of course, sounds a lot like fibromyalgia. To find out whether post-COVID syndrome was actually causing some people to develop fibromyalgia (including the chronic pain that goes along with it), Italian researchers decided to perform a web-based study.
The study, which was published in the journal RMD Open: Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Diseases, surveyed more than 600 people who had recovered from COVID at least three months before the study began but had ongoing health problems. Those with a pre-existing fibromyalgia diagnosis or a history of chronic musculoskeletal pain were excluded.
Study participants completed surveys that asked about the severity of their COVID infection as well as symptoms that might pertain to fibromyalgia. The questions about fibromyalgia were based on the American College of Rheumatology’s Survey Criteria for Fibromyalgia, as well as the organization’s Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.The researchers noted that “both male gender and obesity have been consistently associated with a more severe clinical course in patients with COVID-19” and speculated that having a more severe case of COVID might somehow predispose obese men to fibromyalgia. However, they did not find a significant increased risk of fibromyalgia among those who had been hospitalized with COVID.
“In the light of the overwhelming numbers of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it is reasonable to forecast that rheumatologists will face up with a sharp rise of cases of a new entity that we defined ‘FibroCOVID,’” the authors concluded.
Long-haul COVID, also known as post-COVID condition, can cause symptoms that continue for weeks or months after the initial COVID-19 infection. Some people with long-haul COVID report symptoms that are also commonly seen in fibromyalgia, including widespread body pain, persistent tiredness, sleep problems, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and increased sensitivity to pain. Because these symptoms can overlap, it may sometimes be difficult to distinguish between post-COVID symptoms and a fibromyalgia-like condition.
Researchers are studying whether COVID-19 can trigger changes in the nervous system, immune system, and the body’s response to pain that may contribute to these symptoms. People experiencing ongoing pain and fatigue after COVID may find that symptoms fluctuate, with some days being better than others. Rest, balanced daily activity, healthy sleep habits, stress management, and appropriate medical care can help people manage persistent symptoms. It is important not to assume that every case of long-haul COVID is fibromyalgia, because several other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
A healthcare professional can evaluate the person’s symptoms and medical history and may recommend appropriate tests to rule out other causes. Research into the relationship between long-haul COVID and fibromyalgia is still developing, but the similarities have increased interest in understanding chronic pain and fatigue after viral infections. Awareness of this possible overlap can help patients communicate their symptoms clearly and seek appropriate support. If symptoms are persistent, worsening, or interfering with everyday activities, medical advice should be sought. Overall, the connection between long-haul COVID and fibromyalgia-like symptoms highlights the importance of continued research into post-viral illness and chronic pain conditions.
