Every monsoon, Pune sees chikungunya alongside dengue. Most people remember the first week: high fever and joint pain so sharp that getting out of bed or holding a cup is a struggle. What surprises many is what comes after. The fever settles, the blood tests normalise, and yet the fingers, wrists, ankles or knees keep aching and stiffening for weeks or months.
This lingering pain is a well-recognised part of chikungunya, not a sign that something was missed. The good news is that it usually improves with time and the right care. This guide explains why it happens, what helps, and which signs mean it is worth a closer look.
Why chikungunya affects the joints
Chikungunya is a viral infection spread by the Aedes mosquito, the same mosquito that spreads dengue. The virus triggers strong inflammation in the tissues around joints and tendons. In the first days that inflammation causes the typical severe, often symmetrical pain in the small joints of the hands and feet, the wrists, ankles and knees.
In many people the inflammation calms within a few weeks. In others it persists, causing pain, morning stiffness and sometimes swelling that can last for months, and occasionally a year or longer. It tends to linger more in people over about 45, in those who had very severe joint pain in the first week, and in people who already had joint problems such as osteoarthritis.
What long-lasting chikungunya pain feels like
- Stiffness on waking that eases slowly as you move
- Pain in the same joints on both sides of the body
- Difficulty making a fist, opening jars or climbing stairs
- Pain that flares after a busy day or in cool, damp weather
- Sometimes puffy fingers or ankles
The first week: why painkiller choice matters
In the early fever phase, chikungunya and dengue can look almost identical, and both are common in Pune at the same time. Dengue can lower platelets and cause bleeding, so common anti-inflammatory painkillers (such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and aspirin) should be avoided until a doctor has ruled dengue out. Paracetamol, rest and fluids are the safe starting point. Once dengue has been excluded, a doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine for the joint pain.
If you are unsure how the two infections differ, our guide to malaria, dengue and chikungunya sets them side by side.
What helps once the fever has gone
- Keep moving gently. Short walks and range-of-motion exercises stop joints from stiffening further. Complete rest usually makes stiffness worse.
- Warm compresses or a warm shower in the morning can ease stiffness.
- Physiotherapy helps when hands, knees or ankles have lost strength or movement.
- Pain medicine prescribed by your doctor, for a defined period and with a review.
- Sleep, hydration and a balanced diet support recovery. There is no special food or supplement proven to clear chikungunya pain faster.
Please be cautious with steroid tablets or injections given without a proper assessment. They can mask symptoms and carry real side effects. For a small group of people whose joints stay swollen and inflamed for months, a specialist may recommend medicines similar to those used for rheumatoid arthritis, which need monitoring with blood tests.
When to have your joints checked
- Pain or stiffness lasting more than three weeks after the fever
- Visible swelling, warmth or redness in a joint
- Pain that stops you working, walking or sleeping
- Joint pain with a returning fever
- Joints that were already troublesome now much worse
At the visit, the doctor will examine your joints, ask how the illness started and may order blood tests. These can include tests to confirm chikungunya, and sometimes tests to make sure another type of arthritis is not developing, as the patterns can overlap. Our article on rheumatoid arthritis versus osteoarthritis explains that difference.
Preventing the next infection
Aedes mosquitoes breed in small collections of clean standing water and bite mostly during the day. Empty flower-pot trays, coolers, buckets and anything on balconies or terraces that collects rain at least once a week, use repellent in the daytime, and cover arms and legs where you can.
If your joints are still aching after chikungunya, our orthopaedic team in Viman Nagar can assess you and plan a recovery routine. Book a visit or call +91 70287 22200, open all 7 days.
