Pain

Chronic pain (pain of more than three months) is much more common after COVID-19; you may have noticed this symptom.

You may get joint pains (but not swelling) or chest wall pain, despite normal heart tests. You may also notice headaches which can be anywhere in the head and not necessarily worse at any particular time of day or night.

Any damaged tissue heals within 3 months but sometimes the pain signals continue, even though the cause has gone. We are not entirely sure why COVID-19 can increase pain but we do know that the reasons are complex. Post COVID-19 syndrome pain often doesn’t get better with pain medicines but needs different kind of treatments.

Pacing

Chronic pain is often worse when we have over exert ourselves mentally, physically or emotionally. To reduce the risk of over exertion it’s important to consider ourselves. This is not always easy but does help with reducing and managing the symptoms of pain. This video from our local pain team helps us to see how pacing, prioritizing and planning can improve control of our symptoms of pain. This approach is similar to how we help people manage fatigue . You can find out more about this on our fatigue page.

 

Resources to help

Livewellwithpain is a website designed by people who live with pain, as well as their clinicians – the 10footsteps is particularly helpful to check out and work through to help you with your pain.

Christine’s story on the front page of the Somerset Community Pain Management Service website is helpful to see how it’s possible to live well with pain.

If you continue to struggle with pain, you could discuss with your GP team whether or not you should be referred to the local specialist pain team.