Evaluation of COVID-19-Related Pain Symptoms and Assessment of Neuropathic Pain

INTRODUCTION: Myalgia, arthralgia, headache, chest pain, back pain, abdominal pain, sore-throat may be present in COVID-19. The purpose of this study is evaluating the frequency, intensity and the regional characteristics of pain related symptoms in hospitalized COVID-19 patients as long as neuropathic pain and its components.
METHODS: In this retrospective study, for the assessment of pain, myalgia, arthralgia, headache, sore-throat, chest pain, back pain and abdominal pain were questioned. Intensity of pain was evaluated by an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale. Neuropathic pain detection was performed by Identification Pain Questionnaire (ID-Pain).
RESULTS: The frequency of pain in hospitalized patients was 68.5%. The frequency of COVID-19-related symptoms were 53.4% myalgia, 39.7% arthralgia, 41.1% headache, 21.2% sore-throat, 21.9% chest pain, 28.1% back pain and 15.8% abdominal pain. A statistically significant relationship was observed between headache and hyposmia development (odds ratio= 6.53; 95% CI: 3.14-13.60; P<0.001). In neuropathic pain assessment, ID-Pain scores of 6 (4.1%) of patients were found ≥ 2. For neuropathic pain components, it was observed that hot/burning type was accompanying to pain in 12 (8.2%) of patients while pins and needles type was accompanying in 8 (5.5%) of the patients.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In hospitalized COVID-19 patients, myalgia, arthralgia and headache are most frequent pain types. Headache was found to be related with hyposmia. Neuropathic pain or mixed pain with a neuropathic component is not a rare condition in COVID-19 disease. Finally, we suggest routine assessment of neuropathic pain in patients with COVID-19.