Why TMS / Chronic Pain symptoms can get worse due to COVID-19

In the last weeks, I’ve noticed that more and more people are experiencing either a worsening of their chronic pain symptoms, or else new, alarming symptoms. This has happened since the Coronavirus has started affecting their lives, placing some of us in isolation and getting us face to face with a new reality - a reality that is telling us that we should not take anything for granted, that everything can change overnight, and that we do not have control over everything. If this doesn’t quite answer your question as to why chronic pain or TMS symptoms have got worse since COVID-19, then I’ll delve deeper into the subject in the video and article below.

Pain is a danger signal

Pain is a way for the mind and body to alert us that we are under some sort of threat. This could be a ‘real’ threat, or else a ‘perceived threat’, i.e. something that we feel is threatening to our existence or our sense of security. In my article about the Fight or Flight Response, I explain how anxiety and stress put us into a prolonged state of fight or flight, and that when we are in this state, we are perceiving a a danger (whether a real danger actually exists or not depends on the individual situation). Since pain is one of the ways in which we are alerted to threats, it is therefore not surprising that chronic pain will worsen or reappear if life gets more stressful.

The Coronavirus brings us face to face with reality

In the case of the Coronavirus, there is definitely a ‘real’ threat that has become present among us. Maybe for the very first time in our lives, we’ve come to realise how fragile human existence is, and what’s worse, that we don’t have full control over the situation. Many of us have resorted to panic buying and taking extreme preventive measures in order to avoid the virus, and indeed, this may be having its desired effect in slowing the spread. However, given the highly contagious nature of the virus, none of us are completely safe, and that is what’s causing our anxiety to go through the roof.

In truth, we have never been completely safe. While I don’t wish to undermine the seriousness of the virus in any way, my point here is to get the facts straight; we have never been totally safe from accidents, illnesses or even isolation, but our false sense of security may have been holding ground up to this point. Most people, especially those who’ve never been through particularly trying times, have spent their lifetimes working according to a ‘plan’, building a safe haven for them and their family: earning money, travelling to safe countries, avoiding unsafe neighbourhoods, and the like.

Yet now, this false sense of security has been bashed against the wall with the onset of the Coronavirus. Now, it’s not just ‘those people in Africa’ who are dying of malaria and hunger, now anyone can die of the Coronavirus, and we are under a ‘real’ threat. It is no wonder then, that the danger signal will start firing even more vehemently, especially in those people who are already prone to chronic pain, Tension Myositis Syndrome and other mindbody ailments.

What can I do if my symptoms got worse since COVID-19?

First and foremost, if you are feeling any new symptoms that mimic those of the Coronavirus, such as coughing, chest pain or sore throat, it’s important to get tested first. Once you rule out the possibility of having the virus, or if it’s just your old symptoms that have flared up again, it’s time for some self-awareness.

Don’t be afraid to acknowledge how this crisis is affecting you. Take some time alone for self-reflection, and ask yourself how you feel about it all. Do you feel threatened? Are you worried about the future? Have you been trying your best to stay positive, and have therefore buried all the fears and anxiety deep within?

Once you get clearer on how you’ve been feeling, it will be time to tackle the pain itself. Accept it and acknowledge that your emotions are what’s been fuelling it. Take time to notice it without fear or frustration. This practise takes time, but once mastered, it is your best tool to fight TMS pain.

Meditation, yoga and relaxation exercises can also help induce the relaxation response and will give your mind a break from all the anxiety. The more consistent you are with these practises, the better your results will be. Prioritising your wellbeing in this way, making sure you stay on track with fitness and nutrition, and most importantly, reducing your anxiety will also boost your immune system and put you in a much better position to fight the Coronavirus if you were to get it!

But before you get too determined to fight off and get rid of your pain or anxiety, I’ll finish off with one word of advice: don’t rush through the process. If you fight and resist a situation too aggressively, you will be giving your pain a reason to persist, because you will still be firing that danger signal. This is not a battle; it’s a process of awareness, self-acceptance, patience and ultimately, self-growth.