The impact of COVID-19 on chronic pain

Abraham Lavin; Félix LeBlanc; Antonios El Helou

doi:10.3389/fpain.2023.1234099

The impact of COVID-19 on chronic pain

Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2023 Aug 22:4:1234099. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1234099. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Abraham Lavin¹, Félix LeBlanc¹, Antonios El Helou^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
² Division of Neurosurgery, Horizon Health Network, Moncton, NB, Canada.
³ Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.

Abstract

A reduced quality of life is often a hefty burden that those with chronic pain are left to bear. This review of literature from PubMed, Google Scholar and other relevant studies focuses on the complex relationship between COVID-19 and chronic pain, which is challenging to study during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, we will briefly discuss the epidemiologic facts and risk factors, followed by the proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms. Furthermore, we will cover the therapeutic avenues regarding various molecules and their possible interactions, with the most promising being those whose mechanism of action can be directly linked to the pathophysiologic aspects of the condition. Finally, we will describe how to deal with a chronic pain patient who consults during the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; chronic pain; pandemic; pathophysiology and mechanism; therapeutic options.

Publication types

Review