The impact of COVID-19 on patients with chronic pain seeking care at a tertiary pain clinic

Abstract

Empirical data on the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic remain scarce, especially among patients with chronic pain. We conducted a cross-sectional study matched by season to examine patient-reported health symptoms among patients with chronic pain pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic onset. Survey responses were analyzed from 7535 patients during their initial visit at a tertiary pain clinic between April 2017–October 2020. Surveys included measures of pain and pain-related physical, emotional, and social function. The post-COVID-19 onset cohort included 1798 initial evaluations, and the control pre-COVID-19 cohort included 5737 initial evaluations. Patients were majority female, White/Caucasian, and middle-aged. The results indicated that pain ratings remained unchanged among patients after the pandemic onset. However, pain catastrophizing scores were elevated when COVID-19 cases peaked in July 2020. Pain interference, physical function, sleep impairment, and emotional support were improved in the post-COVID-19 cohort. Depression, anxiety, anger, and social isolation remained unchanged. Our findings provide evidence of encouraging resilience among patients seeking treatment for pain conditions in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, our findings that pain catastrophizing increased when COVID-19 cases peaked in July 2020 suggests that future monitoring and consideration of the impacts of the pandemic on patients’ pain is warranted.

Did the Physical and Mental Health of Orthopaedic Patients Change After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

“…It is therefore possible that orthopaedic patients in our practice experienced a similar trend in physical and mental health, with patients already recovered to prepandemic levels by 2021. Similar to our results, a cross-sectional study of patients with chronic pain presenting to a tertiary pain clinic in the California Bay area found that although pain catastrophizing scores were elevated when COVID-19 peaked in July 2020, physical function, pain interference, depression, and anxiety scores were either improved or unchanged compared with the pre-COVID-19 cohort [34]. The authors contributed these findings, in part, to patients in the post-COVID-19 cohort reporting increased access to emotional support and no worsening changes in social isolation and satisfaction with social roles.…”

Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic Moderates Pain Perception and Momentary Oxytocin Levels

“…The threat of the virus in combination with restrictions and quarantines has been associated with increased rates of anxiety, depression, stress, and decreased well-being [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. In parallel, self-reported pain increased [ 5 , 6 , 7 ], especially when patients suffering from chronic pain did not have access to treatment [ 8 ], suggesting that adequate clinical care can prevent pain augmentation during a pandemic [ 9 , 10 ]. Further, self-reported pain during the pandemic was associated with decreased physical activity and increases in psychological stress [ 6 ].…”

Chronic pain experience through COVID-19: a comparison of reports prior and during the early stages of the pandemic

“…While there was much uncertainty, lockdowns, and physical distancing, Australia avoided significant impacts 1 seen in other countries, where large numbers of severe cases and deaths were experienced. 52 Lockdowns varied by state and sometimes by local area within states and territories; however, during wave 2 data collection period, most jurisdictions were coming out of the first major lockdown and restrictions were easing.…”