UW Health researchers estimate 50% of Covid patients experience chronic pain after recovering

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Some people who contracted Covid-19 are dealing with chronic pain months after recovering from the infection.

Researchers at UW Health say the pain is most prevalent in patients who were hospitalized. 

They are still trying to understand why this is happening.

One doctor at UW Health is seeing patients complain of long-lasting headaches, chest and testicular pain, and fatigue.

He says the vaccine can help prevent this.

"Some people think you know, I'm young, I'm healthy, I can get Covid-19 and recover, no problems. But what I like to tell people, even if you recover from the acute illness, you might continue to have residual symptoms," said Dr. Alaa Abd-Elsayed, medical director at UW Health Pain Services.

Dr. Alaa Abd-Elsayed says it is estimated 50% of people will continue to experience pain for at least six months after the initial infection.