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Neurological Sciences
Published in: Neurological Sciences 2/2021

Open Access 01-02-2021 | Migraine | COVID-19

Life with chronic pain during COVID-19 lockdown: the case of patients with small fibre neuropathy and chronic migraine

Authors: Monica Consonni, Alessandra Telesca, Licia Grazzi, Daniele Cazzato, Giuseppe Lauria

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 2/2021

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Abstract

Objective

We aimed at investigating the impact of COVID-19-related distress on patients with chronic pain, highlighting the effects of changes in individual habits and public health care reconfiguration on physical and psychological health.

Methods

During the pandemic, 80 participants (25 patients with small fibre neuropathy (SFN), 42 patients with chronic migraine (CM) and 13 patients’ healthy family members (HFM)) were asked to evaluate their COVID-19 complains, changes in habits and clinical management, behaviour, mood, loneliness, quality of life (QoL), physical and mental health and coping strategies. Data were analysed by Spearman rho correlations and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results

Patients had lower QoL, lower physical health and higher catastrophizing attitude towards pain than HFM. During the pandemic, SFN patients referred greater decline in clinical symptoms, worries about contagion and discomfort for disease management changes than CM patients. In the SFN group, the higher levels of disability were associated with suffering from changes in neurologist-patient relationship. CM patients complained of agitation/anxiety that was related to feelings of loneliness, depressive mood and catastrophism.

Discussion

Despite similar complains of change in habits and worries about COVID-19 pandemic, SFN and CM patients had distinct reactions. In SFN patients, pandemic distress impacted on physical health with worsening of clinical conditions, especially suffering from changes in their care. In CM patients, pandemic distress affected behaviour, mainly with psychological frailty. This suggests the need to customize public health care for patients with distinct chronic pain conditions.
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Metadata
Title
Life with chronic pain during COVID-19 lockdown: the case of patients with small fibre neuropathy and chronic migraine
Authors
Monica Consonni
Alessandra Telesca
Licia Grazzi
Daniele Cazzato
Giuseppe Lauria
Publication date
01-02-2021
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Neurological Sciences / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04890-9

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