Experiencing Painful Osteoarthritis: What Have We Learned From Listening?
Experiencing Painful Osteoarthritis: What Have We Learned From Listening?
Purpose of review Despite the central role of pain in osteoarthritis, until recently, relatively little attention was paid to the osteoarthritis pain experience, including the features of osteoarthritis pain that are most important to people living with this disease. The focus of this review is on recent advances in our understanding of the experience of osteoarthritis pain from the patient's perspective.
Recent findings To gain an understanding of the experience of pain in osteoarthritis, researchers have largely relied on qualitative methodologies. This research indicates that the osteoarthritis pain experience is multidimensional, reflecting the influence of biological (e.g. pain mechanisms), psychological (e.g. mood and coping), and social factors (e.g. social support). Qualitative and quantitative research to date supports the need for measures that distinguish aspects of the pain itself (intensity, frequency, quality, location, etc.) from the consequences of the pain on activity limitations and participation restriction, mood, sleep, and health-related quality of life. This research has underscored the limitations of existing generic and osteoarthritis-specific pain measures, and is driving the development of new tools to better evaluate osteoarthritis-related pain, and thus assessment of its impact and response to various interventions.
Summary Improved measurement of painful osteoarthritis, including attention to the words people with osteoarthritis use to describe their pain, will undoubtedly lead to an improved understanding of pain mechanisms in osteoarthritis and, in turn, mechanism-based and evidence-based treatment decision making.
Pain is the key complaint of individuals with osteoarthritis. Painful osteoarthritis results in physical disability, reduced independence) and increased healthcare utilization. Painful osteoarthritis is associated with sleep interruption, psychological stress, poorer perceived health and is one of the most frequent reasons for a visit to a primary care physician and the reason why most people choose to undergo joint replacement surgery. Despite the central role of pain in osteoarthritis, until recently, relatively little attention was paid to the experience of osteoarthritis pain, including the features that are most important to people living with this disease. The focus of this review is on recent advances in our understanding and assessment of the osteoarthritis pain experience.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Purpose of review Despite the central role of pain in osteoarthritis, until recently, relatively little attention was paid to the osteoarthritis pain experience, including the features of osteoarthritis pain that are most important to people living with this disease. The focus of this review is on recent advances in our understanding of the experience of osteoarthritis pain from the patient's perspective.
Recent findings To gain an understanding of the experience of pain in osteoarthritis, researchers have largely relied on qualitative methodologies. This research indicates that the osteoarthritis pain experience is multidimensional, reflecting the influence of biological (e.g. pain mechanisms), psychological (e.g. mood and coping), and social factors (e.g. social support). Qualitative and quantitative research to date supports the need for measures that distinguish aspects of the pain itself (intensity, frequency, quality, location, etc.) from the consequences of the pain on activity limitations and participation restriction, mood, sleep, and health-related quality of life. This research has underscored the limitations of existing generic and osteoarthritis-specific pain measures, and is driving the development of new tools to better evaluate osteoarthritis-related pain, and thus assessment of its impact and response to various interventions.
Summary Improved measurement of painful osteoarthritis, including attention to the words people with osteoarthritis use to describe their pain, will undoubtedly lead to an improved understanding of pain mechanisms in osteoarthritis and, in turn, mechanism-based and evidence-based treatment decision making.
Introduction
Pain is the key complaint of individuals with osteoarthritis. Painful osteoarthritis results in physical disability, reduced independence) and increased healthcare utilization. Painful osteoarthritis is associated with sleep interruption, psychological stress, poorer perceived health and is one of the most frequent reasons for a visit to a primary care physician and the reason why most people choose to undergo joint replacement surgery. Despite the central role of pain in osteoarthritis, until recently, relatively little attention was paid to the experience of osteoarthritis pain, including the features that are most important to people living with this disease. The focus of this review is on recent advances in our understanding and assessment of the osteoarthritis pain experience.
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