Pain in rheumatoid arthritis

Walsh, David A.; McWilliams, Daniel F.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease of synovial joints, and pain is the predominant problem for people with RA. Pain in RA is distressing in its own right and adversely affects disability and psychosocial outcomes. RA pain may be due to joint inflammation and also augmented by central sensitization and structural joint damage. Noninflammatory pain mechanisms may confound the assessment of disease activity in RA, and treatment should aim to both suppress inflammatory disease and relieve pain symptoms. Effective treatment stratification requires a full assessment of pain mechanisms by clinical history and examination, as well as objective assessment of synovitis and joint damage. Biologic therapies and joint replacement surgery have major impacts on RA pain, but may only be available to those with most severe or advanced disease. Holistic approaches to pain management are indicated, including pharmacologic analgesia where randomized controlled trials (RCTs) offer evidence of efficacy. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012.

Citation

Walsh, D. A., & McWilliams, D. F. (2012). Pain in rheumatoid arthritis. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 16(6), 509-517. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-012-0303-x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Oct 30, 2012
• Publication Date: 2012-12
• Deposit Date: Jun 17, 2024
• Journal: Current Pain and Headache Reports
• Print ISSN: 1531-3433
• Electronic ISSN: 1534-3081
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 509-517
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-012-0303-x
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3204087
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11916-012-0303-x
• PMID: 23109051