What Does a COVID Body Ache Feel Like?

Body aches are one of the most common symptoms reported with COVID-19. Unlike the usual soreness or fatigue after exercise, COVID-related body aches often feel more widespread, persistent, and exhausting. Many patients describe it as a deep ache in their muscles and joints that limits daily activity and can last for several days.

Understanding what these aches feel like, how long they may last, and when you should seek care is essential for managing your health.

What Causes Body Aches With COVID?

When your body is fighting off a viral infection such as COVID-19, the immune system releases chemicals that trigger inflammation. This response helps the body defend itself, but also irritates muscles, joints, and tissues, leading to soreness and stiffness.

In COVID-19, body aches may be more intense than with a seasonal cold or flu because of the way the virus impacts both the immune system and muscle fibers. Some patients also report COVID-19 extreme muscle pain in legs or lower back discomfort, which can interfere with sleep and movement.

If your aches are severe and you are unsure whether it could be something more serious, the ER of Plano provides Emergency Services available 24/7.

What Does a COVID Body Ache Feel Like?

COVID-related body aches often:

• Start as a dull, generalized soreness throughout the body.
• Progress into deep muscle pain that may feel sharp or stabbing in specific areas like the back or legs.
• Come with additional symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, or fever.

Some patients specifically describe:

• What does COVID back pain feel like? Often, there is a constant, aching discomfort in the lower back, different from posture-related pain.
• COVID-19 extreme muscle pain in legs: throbbing, heavy sensations that make walking difficult.

Unlike typical soreness from activity, these aches are not relieved by rest alone and may worsen as the illness progresses.

For a more accurate evaluation, ER of Plano provides Laboratory Testing Services that can help confirm COVID-19 infection.

How Long Do COVID Body Aches Last?

For most people, body aches from COVID last several days to about one week during the acute stage of infection. The severity often peaks around day 2 to day 5, which is when many patients report feeling the worst overall.

In some cases, especially with Long COVID, aches can linger for weeks or even months, affecting quality of life. If you are still experiencing pain long after recovery, seeking medical evaluation is recommended.

COVID Body Aches Without Fever

It is possible to have body aches without a fever. While fever is a common symptom, not everyone develops it. If you are experiencing full-body aches, weakness, and fatigue without a temperature spike, COVID-19 may still be the underlying cause.

Because body aches can also result from flu, dehydration, or other infections, medical evaluation is the safest way to confirm the reason behind your symptoms. For quick results, ER of Plano provides Diagnostic Imaging Services and testing as part of our comprehensive care.

How to Get Rid of COVID Muscle Aches?

Managing body aches from COVID focuses on rest and supportive care. While home remedies may provide temporary relief, severe or persistent symptoms should be checked by a medical professional.

Patients often ask: Is a hot bath good for COVID body aches? Warm baths may ease soreness, but they do not treat the underlying infection. It is important to monitor your overall condition, especially if other symptoms like breathing problems, dehydration, or chest pain occur.

If pain escalates, the ER of Plano offers Abdominal Pain Treatment and Dehydration Treatment, addressing common complications that can worsen muscle discomfort during illness.

What Else Can Cause Body Aches?

Although COVID-19 is a leading cause of sudden, widespread muscle aches, other conditions may produce similar symptoms. These include:

• Influenza (flu)
• Dehydration
• Overexertion from exercise
• Autoimmune conditions
• Stress fractures or bone-related injuries

Because the symptoms overlap, professional evaluation is the most reliable way to identify the cause and begin the right course of care.

When Should You Go to the ER for COVID Body Aches?

Seek emergency care if you experience:

• Severe or persistent pain that prevents movement.
• Weakness accompanied by shortness of breath or chest discomfort.
• Dehydration from inability to keep fluids down.
• Sudden swelling or redness in muscles and joints.

FAQs About COVID Body Aches

Where do COVID body aches start?
 They may start in larger muscle groups such as the legs, back, or shoulders, and then spread throughout the body.

How long does COVID achiness last?
 Typically, 5 to 7 days during acute infection, though lingering aches are possible with Long COVID.

Which day of COVID feels the worst?
 Most patients report that days 2 to 5 bring the most severe body aches, fatigue, and overall symptoms.

How to get rid of COVID muscle aches?
 Rest, hydration, and supportive care are most important. Severe cases should be evaluated by a medical provider.