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Understanding pain in osteoarthritis.
S E Gwilym1, T C B Pollard, A J Carr
1Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Oxford, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK. s_gwilym@doctors.org.uk
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume
|March 4, 2008
Summary
Osteoarthritis patients often seek pain relief from surgeons. This review explores current pain management concepts and introduces the
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Pain management
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of chronic joint pain and functional limitation.
- Despite advances in pain physiology, unexplained pain phenomena persist in OA patients.
- Effective pain management is crucial for orthopaedic clinical practice in OA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current concepts in osteoarthritis pain.
- To discuss pain modulation and treatment strategies for OA.
- To introduce the 'phantom joint' concept for post-arthroplasty pain.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pain physiology and OA management.
- Exploration of current clinical concepts in OA pain.
- Introduction of a novel concept for persistent post-surgical pain.
Main Results:
- Understanding OA pain mechanisms remains incomplete.
- Various factors contribute to persistent pain in OA.
- The 'phantom joint' may explain some cases of unrelieved pain after joint replacement.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing pain management in OA requires a comprehensive approach.
- Further research is needed to understand complex pain presentations in OA.
- The 'phantom joint' concept warrants further investigation for persistent post-arthroplasty pain.
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