Pain Control

Vicious cycle of pain

  • Multi-dimensional (physical and psychosocial) factors exacerbate arthritis pain, creating a vicious cycle.
  • Arthritis pain is primarily caused by inflammation-induced tissue damage, muscle tension, or muscle weakness. In the presence of pain, overprotection or disuse of joints further aggravates muscle tension and weakness, leading to more pain.
  • Self-restriction to exercise and physical activity due to pain results in increased dependency on others, depression, and stress, which all increase pain sensitivity and perception.
  • This vicious cycle should be broken.

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Pain management strategies(1)

  • Because arthritis pain is affected by physical and psychosocial factors, both drug and non-drug approaches are needed.

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Pain management strategies(2)

  • To effectively manage pain, adequate knowledge and skills and positive attitudes towards and belief about pain are needed.

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