Emergence From the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Care of Chronic Pain: Guidance for the Interventionalist

Department

Spine & Pain Medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Anesthesia and Analgesia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a significant disruption in the care of pain from chronic and subacute conditions. The impact of this cessation of pain treatment may have unintended consequences of increased pain, reduced function, increased reliance on opioid medications, and potential increased morbidity, due to the systemic impact of untreated disease burden. This may include decreased mobility, reduction in overall health status, and increase of opioid use with the associated risks.

METHODS: The article is the study of the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) COVID-19 task force to evaluate the policies set forth by federal, state, and local agencies to reduce or eliminate elective procedures for those patients with pain from spine, nerve, and joint disease. The impact of these decisions, which were needed to reduce the spread of the pandemic, led to a delay in care for many patients. We hence review an emergence plan to reinitiate this pain-related care. The goal is to outline a path to work with federal, state, and local authorities to combat the spread of the pandemic and minimize the deleterious impact of pain and suffering on our chronic pain patients.

RESULTS: The article sets forth a strategy for the interventional pain centers to reemerge from the current pandemic and to set a course for future events.

CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic represents an overwhelming challenge to interventional pain physicians and their patients. In addition to urgent actions needed for disease mitigation, the ASPN recommends a staged return to pain management professionals' workflow.

First Page

387

Last Page

394

DOI

10.1213/ANE.0000000000005000

Volume

131

Issue

2

Publication Date

8-1-2020

Publisher

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Medical Subject Headings

Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Chronic Pain; Coronavirus Infections; Critical Pathways; Health Status; Humans; Pain Management; Pandemics; Patient Safety; Pneumonia, Viral; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Treatment Outcome

PubMed ID

32452905

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