Managing Chronic Pain During Pandemic

The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) and European Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA) have issued a joint statement on recommendations for chronic pain practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations include:

• Substituting telemedicine visits for in-person visits where possible.
• For patients infected with the virus, “We do not recommend any changes to ongoing opioid treatment regimens in the absence of documented changes in pain and/or function.” Patients on transdermal opioids should be carefully monitored, as fever can affect absorption rate.
• Ensure all patients receive their appropriate prescription of opioids to avoid withdrawal.
• Provide naloxone education and prescription for high-risk patients.

The recommendations also include procedures for necessary in-office visits for patients who are at low risk or virus-negative, and separate procedures for those who are at high risk or virus-positive.

Published date: Aug. 18, 2020