New guidelines issued for arthritis pain
The American Pain Society (APS) has released clinical guidelines for treating the acute and chronic pain associated with arthritis.
The APS Guidelines for the Management of Pain in Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Juvenile Chronic Arthritis is the first set of multidisciplinary evidence-based clinical guidelines for treatment of arthritis pain.
"Research shows that the undertreatment of pain in adults and children can have many serious consequences, including psychological complications — anxiety, depression, and an overall decrease in the quality of life. The APS Guidelines will help practitioners and patients better understand acute and chronic pain brought on by this disease and learn when to use various treatment to manage their patients; pain," says Michael Ashburn, MD, APS president.
Arthritis is a generic term that refers to more than 100 conditions, the most common being osteoarthritis, a disease that occurs with aging and affects eight in 10 people older than 75.
The guidelines specify that all treatment should begin with a comprehensive assessment of pain and function and that arthritis patients should maintain an ideal body weight and adhere to a balanced diet.
The guidelines are available at the APS web site at www.ampainsoc.org.
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