Dr. Daria Kosevich, a rheumatologist, reported that the shift to an active lifestyle, in addition to viral infections, may cause joint pain in the spring.
According to her, the most common cause of these problems is excessive stress.
She says: "Office workers are more susceptible to this risk, especially in the spring. This is because a sedentary lifestyle is suddenly and regularly interrupted by increased physical activity: such as long walks on weekends, jogging, or going to the gym."
The expert points out that, as a result, muscles that are not used to this exertion produce large amounts of oxidation byproducts, which causes pain.
She says: "But, if this overload is not critical to the body, it will not cause active inflammation. And the sensations in the muscles, around the joint, at the attachment points in the tendon part of the muscles, will disappear within 2-3 days without the use of any special means or drugs."
If the injury is caused by a traumatic injury, the pain may persist for more than a week. In this case, a trauma specialist should be consulted. If the pain is accompanied by swelling, stiffness, or a feeling of rigidity in the joint, it is essential to see a rheumatologist, as the cause may be arthritis or active inflammation.
She says: "Viral infections can also cause pain. Often, it's not a common cold, but something more serious, with a clear and severe impact on the immune system, such as influenza or COVID-19."
She adds: “At the peak of viral activity, muscle and joint pain may occur, but it should not last more than two weeks after recovery. Otherwise, you should be examined by a rheumatologist, because the body’s overreaction to the infection may lead to the development of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. This particularly includes people with a family history of these conditions.”
