Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Dec 2021
ReviewPain Management Strategies in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Narrative Review.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and progressive deterioration of the joints, which generates pain and stiffness. The origin of this pain is multifactorial, with inflammation, secondary osteoarthritis, as well as central and peripheral sensitization playing important roles in the development. Up to 90.4% of RA patients visit a health professional for severe pain, and despite new therapies and sophisticated treatments, there are a limited number of options for analgesic management. ⋯ DMARDs are the mainstay of RA treatment, although many patients continue to experience pain despite optimal management. Medications such as glucocorticoids, NSAIDs, topical capsaicin, and weak opioids are key elements when achieving analgesia in RA. Other pharmacological groups such as neuromodulators, antidepressants, muscle relaxants and cannabinoids currently do not have enough evidence to be recommended.