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Although the COVID-19 pandemic may seem to be in the rearview mirror, many people are still struggling with the long-term effects of the disease.
At some point in 2022, the CDC reported that one in five adults who had contracted the virus were still suffering from long COVID. The numbers have since declined, but the effects of a long COVID can be debilitating for those still suffering.
The medical community has taken notice, and options for long-term COVID treatment are available. Aspen Orthopedic Pain and Spine offers a breakthrough treatment for people suffering for months or even years from long COVID.
Understanding the effects of long COVID
The long COVID can wreak havoc on your body and your daily life. The name was coined at the start of the pandemic after people with persistent symptoms of the disease called themselves “long haulers”. The United States Department of Health and Human Services said: “Long COVID is not one condition. It represents many potentially overlapping entities, likely with different biological causes and different sets of risk factors and results.”
When someone experiences a particularly severe case of COVID-19, the risk of experiencing long-lasting or multi-organ effects is even greater. You could become more susceptible to developing conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, or neurological problems.
A new treatment to relieve suffering
One of the most common symptoms of COVID is loss of taste and smell, also known as parosmia. Everyday life can be miserable, even infuriating, when your basic human senses aren’t working!
Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a nerve-blocking treatment that has shown promising results in patients with COVID for a long time. GBS is a proven treatment typically used for the management of chronic pain, headaches, excessive sweating, and even PTSD. It is a simple injection into the bundle of nerves at the base of the neck that helps block signals from your sympathetic nervous system. With long COVID patients, it can act as a reset button for your nervous system, helping to regain your sense of taste and smell.
A 2022 study from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is just one study to support this. According to the study authors, “Stellate ganglion block (SGB) may decrease increased sympathetic activity and potentially resolve anosmia (loss of smell) and dysgeusia (taste disturbance) occurring due to a long covid”.
Make an appointment with Aspen Orthopedic Pain and Spine
Dr. Greg Condie of Aspen Orthopedic Pain and Spine is committed to restoring your life to optimal function and movement. The treatment aims to help patients regain control of their lives, one step at a time. Condie and her staff provide quality care to Murray and the surrounding community by focusing on the root cause of the pain.
Also, Aspen Orthopedic Pain and Spine is the only place in Utah where you can receive this treatment during an extended period of COVID. Utah has a handful of clinics focused on long-term COVID treatment, but they specialize in mitigating the lingering effects of the virus (think respiratory therapy, etc.) rather than the holistic whole-body approach. offered by Aspen Orthopedic and Spine.
Early treatment improves your quality of life in the short and long term, so don’t delay in getting the help you need. Book an appointment with Aspen Orthopedic Pain and Spine and take back control of your life.