Staff Writer – Latoya Wakefield
Caribbean news. After a week of excruciating pain for some, it’s despairing to know that this virus can persist for years. Chikungunya known as Chik. V is no joke unless it is a chicken shooting a gun or some witty meme. It’s a virus that toys cruelly with your joints irrespective of where you are or what you’re doing.
The relapse can be just as mean as the initial week of symptoms and cripples your productivity and cash flow. Some people have to resign back to bed or consistently take medication. In all my years here on earth, I’ve never seen such a virus as this that spread so quickly and causes pain for so long even though it wasn’t labelled as “serious”.
After enduring that one week of joint pain, rash, fever, people thought this virus was over and done with but the relapse is a constant and painful reminder. Jamaicans are not used to being handicapped so badly that they’re not even able to screw the cap off a drink or push a door open or sleep with others comfortably for fear of “hurting up” their inflamed joints.
Photo courtesy http://thekingclinic.co.uk/
Other than pain-killers, mild exercise is one of recommendations made when it comes to full recovery. For those with more than a thorn in their sides, physiotherapy is recommended.However, not many are accustomed or can afford or have the time for physiotherapy sessions. Maybe this is an opportunity for those in the field of physiotherapy to come together with an affordable recovery plan for Chik. V relapses. All 14 parishes now have some cases of Chik. V so this could be an opening to implement such a plan. What are your thoughts?
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