Introduction:

The occurrence of a pandemic event is an unprecedented global crisis that has consequences on various aspects of society.

Patients with chronic pain conditions may experience delays in appointments, limited availability of medications and reduced access to physical therapy or other treatments that provide relief.

The constant threat of infection and the necessary precautions, such as isolation and social distancing measures, can compound stress levels, intensify pain symptoms and trigger mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Social support networks may also diminish, exacerbating feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Our study wanted to evaluate the criticalities experienced by patients with chronic pain during the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic.

Methods:

In the period between April and July 2021 we submitted a questionnaire to all patients who accessed our clinic with a diagnosis of chronic pain prior to the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.

Results:

In our study 35 patients were enrolled, more than half were women (55%) and aged over 65 (58%); moderate to severe difficulty in accessing care was experienced from most of them.

We observed a mood worsening in 49% of the interviewed and also an increased pain intensity in more than half of them.

Different types of telemedicine applications, like telephone appointments and e-mails exchanged, were used by most of the patients to communicate with their doctor; only a small group (11%) did not benefit from any type of remote consultancy.

Despite this, most of all the interviewed said that they did not want to integrate any digital solution into their healthcare management.

Conclusions:

During pandemics, most of the patients with chronic pain had limited treatment access and experienced worsening of both mood and pain intensity.

A responsible use of technology could be a tool to reduce social isolation and deliver health assistance, but it must be integrated into the normal care process, in order to be recognized by the patients as part of the healthcare system.