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Chikungunya is one mosquito-borne disease which can be very tough to handle, considering how deadly the symptoms are. The disease might not be as fatal as dengue or malaria but the symptoms, which can range from something as simple as cold and fever to muscle and joint pain can persist for long, even after the patient has recovered from the disease.

During the chikungunya infection, mosquitos which come in contact with the infected person also becomes contagious. The symptoms usually start to show from day 4 and are sometimes even seen as late as day 12. In such cases, early diagnosis cannot be done and hence, strong treatment has to be prescribed.

Treatment Since there is no medicine or vaccine available yet, the only effective treatment option remains in relieving symptoms and lessening the pain. Usually, over the counter prescriptions (OTC) to lessen the fever and the pain are prescribed and are to be taken over a specific time duration.

Immunity boosting medicines are also prescribed to protect the body from future infections. In rare cases, additional treatment for inflammation of eyes or the heart muscles, which can happen in some extreme cases may be needed. Generally, patients suffering from chikungunya are advised to get plenty of bed rest and drink a lot of fluids since the body goes through extreme dehydration.

Home remedies Apart from medicines to lessen the symptoms, the patient is usually advised to take plenty of rest, drink a lot of fluids. In such a case, home remedies can prove to be very helpful. Applying garlic paste or clove oil with pepper can help in reducing inflammation and joint pain, especially around the knees.

Taking a bath in hot water mixed with epsom salt and neem leaves can also improve immunity and lesser pain. Having turmeric, which is rich in curcumin, which has a high dose of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Sunflower seeds soaked in honey can be applied on the knees and joints where it pains so that the symptoms can be eased.

Consuming carrots in your salads can also improve immunity, which is needed by the body to replenish. Tulsi and ashwagandha leaves can also help in reducing the fever Just like in dengue and malaria, consuming coconut water is very helpful as it helps the body detoxify and recover faster.

What is the fastest way to recover from joint pain?

How to Treat Joint Pain – “We put anyone complaining of joint pain through a very thorough examination because not all joint pain is the same,” Dr. Parikh says. “We have to properly diagnose the pain and find the precise pain generators before we can tailor a treatment plan.” Ways to treat joint pain at home include:

• Ice : Apply ice to your joints to relieve pain and swelling. Ice the joint for 15 minutes several times a day.
• Heat : After a day or so, try a heating pad to address any muscle spasms around the joint.
• Rest : Rest the joint during the first day and avoid any activities that cause you pain. Keep in mind that after the initial inflammation goes away, you will need to strengthen that joint through exercise.
• Supplements : You can also look into taking supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin. “Glucosamine sulfate has been shown to reduce pain in patients suffering from arthritic joint pain. However there is not enough evidence to show that it decreases inflammation,” says Dr. Parikh. “While the uses of supplements may be effective, we need more longitudinal studies to see the real effects.” That being said, some patients report improvement after taking these supplements, and if taken properly, they pose little harm to your health.
• Losing weight : Joint pain is common in people who are overweight, so losing weight could relieve some of the pressure on your joints. Your doctor can help customize an exercise plan that’s right for you, but swimming and cycling are two ways to work out without putting too much stress on your joints.

Here are ways your doctor may treat your joint pain in an office-setting:

• Corticosteroid injections : Armed with the right diagnosis, doctors can administer a corticosteroid injection or a targeted nerve block, which can decrease inflammation and ease the pain. “Our goal is to reduce pain and inflammation, and preserve the joint’s function,” Dr. Parikh says.
• Physical therapy : Patients suffering from joint pain can benefit greatly from physical therapy. A physical therapist will use heat and cold therapy and a wide variety of other modalities to ease the pain, strengthen and stabilize the joint, and improve range of motion.
• Regenerative medicine : There have been many advancements in the field of regenerative medicine to help heal damaged or injured tissue, including the lining of your joints. These therapies include injection of substances found in your blood or other compounds into specific locations to strengthen tissue and decrease the effects of long-term arthritis.

Whatever your treatment plan, if the pain in your joint becomes too intense or it suddenly becomes inflamed or swollen, get medical help right away.

Does chikungunya have long lasting effects?

Symptoms – In symptomatic patients, CHIKV disease onset is typically 4–8 days (range 2–12 days) after the bite of an infected mosquito. It is characterized by an abrupt onset of fever, frequently accompanied by severe joint pain. The joint pain is often debilitating and usually lasts for a few days but may be prolonged, lasting for weeks, months or even years.

• Other common signs and symptoms include joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.
• Since these symptoms overlap with other infections, including those with dengue and Zika viruses, cases can be misdiagnosed.
• In the absence of significant joint pain, symptoms in infected individuals are usually mild and the infection may go unrecognized.

Most patients recover fully from the infection; however, occasional cases of eye, heart, and neurological complications have been reported with CHIKV infections. Patients at extremes of the age spectrum are at higher risk for severe disease. Newborns infected during delivery and older people with underlying medical conditions may become severely ill and CHIKV infection can increase the risk of death.

What are the symptoms of chronic chikungunya arthritis?

3. Chronic chikungunya arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Empty Cell	Chronic chikungunya arthritis (CCA)
Similarities	Symptoms: fatigue, arthralgias, arthritis, myalgias, and morning stiffness.
Labs: normochromic anemia; thrombocytosis, and elevated ESR/CRP, RF may be reactive.

Does chikungunya relapse?

Outcome – Acute symptoms typically resolve within 7–10 days. Some patients may have persistence or relapse of rheumatologic symptoms (polyarthralgia, polyarthritis, tenosynovitis) in the months following acute illness. Studies report variable proportions of patients with persistent joint pains for months to years. Mortality is rare and occurs mostly in older adults.

What should I eat after chikungunya recovery?

Your Health Advisor Maintain Proper Diet and Lifestyle for Fast Recovery from Chikungunya Health Checkup – Lifestyle Modifications and Diet Control During and Post Chikungunya Treatment Chikungunya is a common menace in India during and after the rainy season. It is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. The key to fighting any kind of infectious ailment is proper nutrition and hydration with a few lifestyle modifications.

1. This disease accompanies with its high fever and severe joint pain primarily.
2. Other symptoms include muscle pain, nausea, headaches, fatigue, and rashes.
3. The body uses more calories at the time of fever-causing lack of energy which can only be replenished by nutritious food and drinks that are easy on the stomach.

Moreover, the immune system needs to be back on track to recover and fight the infection. All these make it important for the patient suffering from chikungunya to be kept well-nourished. Here is a list of food and drinks to be consumed during and after infected with chikungunya: I.

• Fluids and Liquid Based Foods: It is a must for people suffering from chikungunya to include plenty of fluids in their diet.
• These can be in the form of soups, water, juices, broths, etc.
• Fluids help in removing toxin from the body.
• Yellow daal, carrot soup, tomato soup, chicken soup, coconut water, cow milk, lemonade, etc.

are great source of nutrition. III. Fruits: Fruits are considered to be highly nutritious as they are rich in vitamins. Add plenty of fruits in your diet to get better soon. IV. Eat Vitamins C and E Rich Foods: Vitamin C boosts immunity which is very important to treat chikungunya and vitamin E promotes good health.

• Increase your intake of vitamin C and E rich fruits like kiwis, oranges, guavas, pineapple, papaya, sweet lime, Indian gooseberry, mangoes melons, pomegranate, berries, etc.
• Eat vegetables like broccoli, yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, etc.V.
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Including food items containing Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet of a chikungunya patient helps in reducing inflammation in the body.

Flaxseeds, walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, fishes like tuna, mackerel, sardine, salmon, trout, etc. are a rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids. VI. Chromium Rich Foods: In order to supply vital nutrients to the body and recover from weakness quickly, a chikungunya patient must be fed a diet comprising of chromium, zinc, and selenium.

Sugary foods, bakery items, junk foodsAlcohol Frozen and processed foodsCarbonated and caffeinated beveragesOily, spicy, fried and fatty foods such as red meat

Avoid smoking as well to get relief from chikungunya. Home Remedies for Pain Relief In order to get relief from muscle ache and joint pain, consider the following remedies:

Cold compress is one of the best ways to get relief from pain caused due to chikungunya. Cold compress numbs the nerve endings and relaxes the flow of blood which helps in reducing pain and swelling. Make a cold compress by adding a few ice cubes on a towel. Tie it up and hold the compress onto the area where there is a pain for 3 to 5 minutes. Repeat when necessary.Massaging the painful joints with olive oil, coconut oil, etc. relieve pain since it would relax the muscles and reduce swelling as well as stiffness.Add ginger and turmeric to your diet in the form of tea. These anti-inflammatory ingredients will help in dealing with the pain.

By following the above-mentioned tips, it would become easier to cope with chikungunya and its excruciating symptoms. It is equally important to continue with the medicines for as long as suggested by the doctor to ensure a comprehensive treatment of the condition.

Does taking vitamin D help with joint pain?

Get some sunlight – Sun exposure is the second significant source of vitamin D, Ultraviolet (UV) light starts a chemical reaction in the skin that produces a usable form of vitamin D. How much vitamin D your body produces changes with the environment and how well your skin absorbs vitamin D.

1. Those with darker skin need more sun exposure.
2. The right dose of sunshine for getting vitamin D is hard to estimate.
3. However, depending on skin color and how well you absorb vitamin D, aim for about 5 to 30 minutes of exposure between 10 a.m.
4. And 3 p.m.
5. At least twice per week.
6. The exposure should be to your face, arms, legs, or back, without sunscreen.

Sunscreens with an SPF of 8 or higher block vitamin D-producing UV rays. For some people, a supplement may be needed regardless of the amount of time in the sun. Talk to your healthcare provider about your vitamin D levels. If you work at an office job or live in an area that doesn’t have a lot of sun, consider purchasing a vitamin D lamp.

• It’s very rare to get too much vitamin D.
• But overdose can potentially be very serious.
• Vitamin D toxicity is most likely to be caused by taking too many supplements.
• Taking 60,000 IU per day of vitamin D for several months can cause vitamin D toxicity,
• This is about 100 times the typical adult recommended dietary allowance of 600 IU.

People who have certain health problems may need less vitamin D than the average person and be more susceptible to excess levels. Your body regulates the amount of vitamin D it gets from sunlight and food. It’s difficult to get too much vitamin D from the sun.

• Too much time in the sun interferes with your body creating vitamin D.
• The biggest risk of sun exposure is skin cancer,
• You should wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 before going outside into the sun.
• Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours.
• Vitamin D toxicity can lead to a buildup of calcium in your blood.

This is a condition known as hypercalcemia, The symptoms include:

poor appetitenauseavomitingweaknessfrequent urinationkidney problems

The primary treatment is to reduce or discontinue use of vitamin D supplements. In extreme cases, intravenous fluids or medications may be necessary. People who have low levels of vitamin D often have joint pain. Vitamin D supplements may treat joint pain in some people who have a vitamin D deficiency.

Does magnesium help with joint pain?

Recap – Some research has shown that people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may benefit from magnesium in their diet or as a supplement. Since arthritis can cause inflammation, magnesium’s anti-inflammatory effects might help some people with the condition.

How do you treat joint pain from a virus?

Treatment / Management – Treatment in viral arthritis is generally symptomatic. NSAIDs and acetaminophen should be used for pain and inflammation. The use of corticosteroids is usually discouraged and not recommended. In some cases, as in arthritis-related to Hepatitis B/C or HIV, anti-viral treatment alone can lead to the resolution of the joint symptoms.