As we celebrate reaching mid 2021 with vaccination rates up and cases down in New York, we acknowledge for some, the effects of Covid-19 continue. On June 14, 2021, the CDC published interim guidance for evaluating and caring for patients with post-Covid conditions. The key points include:
The term “Post-Covid Conditions” is an umbrella term for the wide range of physical and mental health consequences experienced by some patients that are present four or more weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection, including by patients who had initial mild or asymptomatic acute infection.
Providers are encouraged to incorporate patient-centered approaches to optimize the quality of life and function in affected patients.
Lack of abnormalities in objective laboratory or imaging findings does not invalidate the existence, severity, or importance of a patient’s symptoms or conditions.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to set achievable goals and to approach treatment by focusing on specific symptoms (e.g., headache). A comprehensive management plan focusing on improving physical, mental, and social wellbeing may be helpful for some patients.
Understanding of post-Covid conditions remains incomplete and guidance for healthcare professionals will likely change over time as the evidence evolves.
We at the Manhattan Center are seeing patients with aggravation of chronic symptoms as well as new onset symptoms possibly due to post-Covid or even Covid vaccinations. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, impaired concentration, nausea, numbness and tingling.
As data and research continue, and governmental and medical guidance develop, our providers follow what has always been successful at our practice. We listen to our patients: we spend up to an hour with our new patients to listen, examine, diagnose, and discuss plan of treatment. We offer in-house testing (EEG, TCD, VNG, EMG/NCS) and use our extensive expertise to treat a variety of neurological conditions. In additional to pharmacological treatments, we offer IV infusions and IM/SQ injections of fluids/vitamins/magnesium, nerve blocks, trigger point injections, as well as massage and mental health therapy. We are committed to recovering from COVID together. Please call and set up an initial or follow up appointment with one of our caring providers.
By: Alice Wong, NP
Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/post-covid-index.html