Is there anyone else who's arthritis has got worse after having Covid?

oceanadvocate
oceanadvocate Member Posts: 2
edited 11. Sep 2025, 08:15 in Living with arthritis

Hi everyone,

First time poster here. I've lived with osteoarthritis in my ankle since I was 23 and have been really positive about my life and able to do most things, called my limp a "happy hop" to help inspire older hospital patients that they could walk faster than me and make them feel better.

However, the more times I got Covid, the worse my mobility got, it usually recovered after a couple of weeks, but during the last bout where I caught it after saving a hospital patient from falling out of bed on a night shift, I've never recovered.

What made me even sadder is that all the permanent staff were given Fit Masks to protect them but I wasn't.

Anyway, I've love to hear if anyone has had similar experiences as I feel really alone not being able to do the things I loved anymore and living with chronic pain.

Have a lovely day

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Comments

  • Ellen
    Ellen Moderator Posts: 2,009

    Hi @oceanadvocate Welcome to the online community.

    Yes people have reported similar issues to you I did a very quick search for some relevant threads:

    https://community.versusarthritis.org/search?domain=all_content&query=covid%20arthritis%20worse&scope=site&source=community

    I am very sorry to hear you weren't given a good mask when you were helping people who were desperately ill during the pandemic.

    Anyway lovely to meet you and hope you'll find the forum helpful 😊

    Ellen.

  • oceanadvocate
    oceanadvocate Member Posts: 2

    Hi Ellen,

    Thanks so much for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it. It's so horrid to hear but also a huge relief to know that there are other people who have reported similar issues.

    This is a huge weight off my mind, thank you so much for helping.

    Have a lovely day Ellen :)

    Maria

  • Barry
    Barry Member Posts: 7

    hi

    Yes my psoriasis arthritis got progressively worse after having my first Covid injection, (Astrazenica)

    I ended up in hospital and was unable to walk or do anything after the injection.

    I was put on steroids which eased the symptoms but over the last 3 years I have progressively got worse than I was in 2021.

    I am now on biological injections as well as all the other meds, pain killers and methotrexate.

    The biological injections is easing things but now I need a number of joint replacements.

    I have talked to many people that has reported of their condition getting worse after the Covid injection.

    I have had 13 now, I keep saying to myself that I will not have anymore, but I now don’t have any immune system at all now and keep getting advice that I need it in case there is an out break again as I wouldn’t survive.

    I feel now I’m between a rock and a hard place. I don’t want to have anymore but I need them.

    I wouldn’t bet like I am if I hadn’t had it to start with but due to my work I had not choice.

  • iwannerbeme
    iwannerbeme Member Posts: 57

    I am convinced getting covid started my RA. I had covid just before Christmas by Jan my hands and feet were so swollen I couldnt get my shoes on and my hands hurt so much it was unreal. I had had problems with bursitis in my hips on and off for a few years and so Im not sure if that was a not so obvious RA symptom. It took until March before a trainee Dr saw me and realised it was RA, then I got a referal.

  • Emmasknackeredjoints
    Emmasknackeredjoints Member Posts: 151

    I developed rea post covid and the az vaccine caused a massive flare

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