Long Covid

More than a year has passed since Covid started dominating news headlines and entered into our daily vocabulary.   And since then, it’s impacted our life in more ways than any of us could have ever imagined.

But while the UK’s hospital admissions rate continues to drop, we’ve seen a rise in is the number of people suffering from long Covid.

What is long Covid?

 Long Covid sees patients suffering long after the infection has gone. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) defines long Covid as lasting for more than 12 weeks, although some people consider symptoms that last more than eight weeks to be long Covid.

Despite what you might have heard, the chances of having long-term symptoms does not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get the virus.  Even those who had mild symptoms initially can still have long-term problems.

What are the symptoms of long Covid?

According to the NHS the symptoms of long Covid, which are very similar to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), are wide and varied. However, the most common long Covid symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain or tightness
  • Problems with memory and concentration (or brain fog)
  • Insomnia
  • Heart palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Pins and needles
  • Joint pain
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Rashes
  • Feeling sick, stomach aches or loss of appetite
  • A high temperature

How can long Covid sufferers be helped?

The NHS suggest getting in contact with your doctor four weeks after having Covid to discuss your options and get you back to your best self.

However recent research has shown that the use of the Perrin Technique™  can be effective when it comes to treating long Covid suffers – something that Osteopath Robin Kiashek, who has more than 25 years’ experience, has become increasingly familiar with over the past year.

Robin said: “Since the Perrin Technique™ was first introduced more than 30 years ago, much research has been done validating it. I trained in the Perrin Technique™ and become a licensed practitioner nearly 20 years ago. Since then, I’ve twice been awarded ‘excellence’ in the practice of the Perrin Technique™ by Dr Perrin himself. I have relied on it countless times to help patients with ME/FCS, Fibromyalgia and now long Covid.”

What exactly is the Perrin Technique™?

We’ve spoken before about the Perrin Technique. The technique was developed in 1989 by Dr Raymond Perrin after he established that different stress factors – whether this is physical factors, allergies, emotional triggers or infections (just like Covid) – lead to an overstrain of the sympathetic nervous system.

Further investigation has led to the probable cause of this nervous system overload, resulting in the dysregulation of the lymphatic system and subsequent build-up of toxins in the fluid around the brain and the spinal cord.

How can the Perrin Technique™ help with Long Covid?

However, the Perrin Technique™, which uses cranial and spinal techniques together with the massage of the soft tissues in the head, neck, back and chest using gentle stroking lymphatic techniques –  directs all the toxins out of the lymphatic system and into the blood. These are eventually detoxified in the liver.

Robin said: “The theory is that with a correction in the lymphatic and sympathetic systems, a reduction in poisons affecting the brain leads to a reduction in symptoms.”

Kind words

Robin has recently helped long Covid patients with the Perrin Technique – the following is a testimonial from one:

“I wanted to write and thank you sooner for your support through mine and F’s covid recovery. It was so kind of you to have such compassion and kindness for both of us through such a challenging time in our lives. Your support gave us such hope and fortitude in the face of fear.

“We both appreciated the regular comfort of a visit to your calming clinic and then subsequent feelings of health and vitality that followed. We are both doing well. There are still some challenging days but overall we are so much better.”

If you are suffering from any signs of long covid, please do get in touch. Robin takes a holistic approach when it comes to diagnosing his patients. He will be able to guide you through your road to recovery.