Post-COVID neuro care

While most individuals with COVID-19 get better within a few weeks, an estimated 10-30% experience lingering symptoms after the infection has cleared. Post-COVID symptoms can happen to anyone who has had COVID-19, even if the illness was mild and even if there were no symptoms initially.

Post-COVID symptoms may interfere with daily life, work, relationships and more. Edward-Elmhurst Health’s neurology team supports individuals with neurological symptoms related to a previous COVID-19 infection.

While there’s no miracle cure, our experts in neurology are here to help ease your symptoms, or resolve them when possible, so you can put COVID behind you and get back to life.

Long-term, post-COVID symptoms

After recovering from COVID-19, some individuals may experience a range of ongoing or new neurologic symptoms, including:

  • Brain fog
  • Headache, migraines
  • Numbness/tingling
  • Disorder of taste or smell
  • Pain/muscle pain
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Tinnitus (ringing in ears)

Individuals may also experience non-neurologic symptoms, including:

  • Fatigue, tiredness
  • Depression/anxiety
  • Shortness of breath 
  • Chest pain
  • Insomnia, difficulty sleeping
  • Variation of heart rate and blood pressure
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms

We can help

If you experience long-term (greater than six weeks after initial infection) neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19, your doctor may recommend an initial evaluation with one of our neurology providers.

Schedule an appointment

To schedule an appointment with one of our neurology providers, call 630-527-7730, option 1. Make sure to mention that you’re experiencing post-COVID symptoms when you call.

Preparing for your appointment

When you schedule an appointment with one of our neurology providers, you’ll be asked to complete an online assessment questionnaire prior to your visit. Your responses will help our team better understand your neurologic symptoms and COVID-19 recovery.

We also recommend you keep a diary of your symptoms, including when symptoms occur and how you felt, as well as what makes symptoms better or worse. Bring this information with you to your appointment as well as your current medications, including the dose and frequency.

Initial evaluation

At your first visit, you’ll receive a full evaluation by one of our neurology experts, who will:

  • Spend time talking with you, ask further questions about your COVID-19 diagnosis, and review your symptom diary (if you have one).
  • Complete a physical and cognitive exam. We’ll use this information to guide our treatment recommendations.
  • Possibly recommend diagnostic testing to provide more insight into your symptoms, assist with diagnosis and rule out other conditions.

This initial evaluation helps us individualize our approach to your care.

Individualized treatment plan

Once a full evaluation is conducted, we’ll recommend a treatment plan. Your individualized treatment plan may include medications, supportive therapies and lifestyle recommendations.

We may also refer you to other specialists, such as pulmonologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, rehabilitation therapists, behavioral health therapists and nutritionists, to ensure you receive comprehensive care for every aspect of your recovery.

Find a neurologist near you

Our expert neurology providers will work with you to help you in your recovery.

Find a neurology expert

Neurosciences locations

Questions?

Experts are still learning about the short- and long-term health effects of COVID-19, who gets them, and why. For additional information or questions, call the Endeavor Health Medical Group Neurosciences office at 630-527-7730.

There is a group, unofficially known as “long-haulers,” who experience lingering health problems after they recover from the coronavirus infection.