Pain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) may involve neuropathic and nociplastic pain, not just nociceptive pain from inflammation or damage.
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Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Visual Numeric Scale (VNS) scores for pain in RA and OA have remained stable over decades, despite improvements in swollen joint counts.
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Median pain VNS scores for RA were reported as 5 in 2021 and 2022, similar to scores from 1979, indicating persistent pain levels despite reduced joint swelling.
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Patients with RA or OA who screened positive for anxiety, depression, and/or fibromyalgia had significantly higher pain scores than those who screened negative.
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The study suggests a potential paradigm shift in understanding pain in rheumatic diseases, highlighting the need for further research on nociplastic pain.
Achievable goals, activity tracking, and social support are among the strategies JAMA researchers recommend for patients with chronic medical conditions.
