Grappling with Chronic Pain and Poverty during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The social threats of COVID-19 for people with chronic pain

“…In short, COVID-19 has disproportionately affected socially disadvantaged groups, and the ensuing global economic fallout could magnify these inequalities in pain further. 90 The concern is that the most economically disadvantaged will be most likely to be exposed to the hazard, most susceptible to harm from it, and most likely to experience negative outcomes from it. 88…”

“…Although pain management is a fundamental right, 23 the health system responses to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 may significantly affect access for patients with complex medical conditions (eg, people with comorbid mental health conditions and addiction) and widen existing inequities in relation to pain management for socially disadvantaged populations. 90 For some people with chronic pain, the pandemic might bring life stressors that result in pain flare-ups, and increase the need for pain services. 77 Furthermore, individual pain experiences may not be considered as immediately important when compared to the need to treat life-threatening symptoms associated with COVID-19, 12 leading to less help-seeking and psychological distress.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pharmacological, physical, and psychological treatments of pain: findings from the Chronic Pain & COVID-19 Pan-Canadian Study

“…9 , 52 Public health restrictions and pandemic-related stress thus added to the preexisting physical, psychosocial, and financial burden that is known to be associated with chronic pain (CP). 14 , 66 Moreover, persistent users of prescribed opioids have been identified as a vulnerable group in the COVID-19 pandemic because the context makes it difficult to adhere to all prescribing and follow-up opioid guidelines. 39 Opioids have also been shown to weaken the immune system.…”

“… 14 , 33 Finally, fear of going to health care appointments 14 and nonmedical use of prescribed medications or illicit drugs 20 were expected. Although major disruptions in CP management were anticipated by the research and the clinical communities, 14 , 16 , 19 , 23 , 24 , 33 , 35 , 40 , 53 , 57 , 66 the impact of the pandemic among individuals living with CP still needed to be quantified.…”

Virtual care for patients with chronic pain and addictions during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Recent correspondence from Webster et al 1 and D'Alessandro et al 2 has highlighted the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed to the provision of chronic pain care. That populations with the combination of chronic pain and a socioeconomically vulnerable or marginalized status have been particularly affected [1][2][3][4] resonates strongly with our local experience managing patients with chronic pain and addictions or opioid use disorder. The pandemic has led to the suspension of all non-urgent ambulatory clinic visits and group sessions at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center Pain Management Unit (QE2 PMU) as well as visits to a community-based outreach clinic for patients with chronic pain and addiction comorbidities in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as of March 18, 2020.…”