A fellow sufferer wrote not so long ago that she had had corona and that the complaints of her restless legs had changed greatly after that. I found that an interesting fact.
She also wrote that she suddenly no longer suffered from RLS during corona. When she was better, the symptoms returned but differently than before. Remarkable to say the least.
The question I therefore want to ask in this blog is whether there is a possible connection between corona and restless legs. What in the corona virus could affect restless legs? And, could these side effects also occur after a COVID vaccination?
It is, of course, much too early to draw any conclusions about this. The medical world still knows far too little about these kinds of possible side effects of the pandemic. Time will tell what the consequences will be in the short and longer term.
Side effects of Corona
On a forum of the Long Fund that I find on the internet when I search for corona and restless legs, I read countless messages from people who suffered from tingling in arms and legs and even severe cramps after corona. A dead and cold feeling in the hands and feet is also common.
The complaints of the fellow sufferer I mentioned above may well be similar. In that case, she is certainly not the only one experiencing this.
However, whether these tingling and muscle cramps are symptoms of RLS is another question. They could also be associated with another condition, such as neuropathy. I previously wrote a blog about the differences between neuropathy and restless legs.
Sometimes both conditions occur in one person at the same time. If the extra symptoms after corona are mainly related to nerve damage, they may well have more to do with neuropathy than with restless legs.
Fortunately, I also read from a number of people that their complaints become less eminent over time. Unfortunately, others continue to suffer for longer.
Vaccination
I myself received my two corona vaccinations in June and July. Both were Pfizer’s vaccine. Apart from a sore arm for a bit more than a day and with the second vaccination a day of flu symptoms, I did not suffer much from it. As for my restless legs, I also felt no effect.
A couple of months ago, a fellow sufferer asked whether there were people who had developed additional problems with RLS after their vaccination. There were no affirmative responses. Of course, that does not mean that there are no people who have experienced an unfavorable effect.
On the other forum I mentioned above, I also read messages from people who feel restless legs, with tingling, etc. in the period after vaccination.
Perhaps there is too low a dose of the virus in such a vaccine in proportion to have really noticeable effects on restless legs in many people. I can also imagine that the less prosperous someone’s health is, the greater the chance of this.
However, the complaints that some people experience may have more to do with nerve damage (and therefore with neuropathy) than with RLS.
I realize that I’m not doing much more here than speculating on the possibility that corona or a corona vaccination could affect someone’s experience of RLS. However, I don’t think it hurts to ask these kinds of questions in this way.
It is possible that further research will be done on this in due course. I am very curious about the results.
