Suggest Treatment For Congestion, Chills, Severe Body Pain In The Joints, Painful Cough And Pressure In The Sinuses

Posted on Thu, 14 Jun 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 Answered on

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 Last reviewed on

Question : My two sounds were sick with a cold. I thought that’s what I caught but now I am on my fourth day of congestion, chills and severe body aches at my joints. I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars to be told I have a virus. Any ideas
Green mucus
Hurts when I cough (throat)
Hard to swallow
Pressure in sinus areas

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Maybe the flu not the common cold

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Based on the presence of severe joint pain along with the other symptoms, it is possible that you may have the flu virus not just the cough/cold virus.

The flu causes more severe symptoms compared to the cough virus. Green mucus can occur with viral infections, it is unfortunately not possible to determine if there is a bacterial component to your infection based on this. If you have a high or prolonged fever, this would make bacterial infection more likely.

Treatment- (1) a warm, not hot compress to the face would help with the sinus congestion

(2)topical and oral decongestant. Topical- eg normal saline or otrivin

Since you need additional meds, it would be best to take a decongestant combined with another medication eg a mucolytic to help break up the mucus in your chest eg mucinex D (has both meds)

(3)ibuprofen or naproxen can be used to help with the throat pain.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar