Pain disorders

Risk stratification in the primary care setting may not lead to significant improvements in pain or function for people with musculoskeletal disorders, but may have benefits for clinical decision-making, the UK-based STarT MSK trial shows.

Twelve weeks of high-dose vitamin D supplementation does not improve pain levels for women with fibromyalgia, research suggests.

Serotonin–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors may reduce pain for up to 3 months in people with osteoarthritis, but it is unclear whether the effect is clinically relevant, show the results of a meta-analysis published in The BMJ.

The results of a systematic review and meta-analysis do not support the effectiveness of most therapies for reducing pain and improving quality of life in people with fibromyalgia.

Multimorbidity is more common in people with versus without rheumatoid arthritis, occurs early in the disease course, and progresses more rapidly, US study data show.

Over half of a UK cohort of rheumatology patients experienced worsening in musculoskeletal symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown period, say researchers.

Patients with rheumatic diseases, particularly fibromyalgia, have elevated rates of self-harm, according to data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Researchers have identified an association between the presence of moderate-to-severe low back pain and risk for falls among patients with knee osteoarthritis.

US researchers have identified a number of chronic conditions associated with rheumatoid arthritis, including some that may predispose to RA development and others that may arise as a result of RA.

An online self-referral strategy for axial spondyloarthritis could raise awareness of the condition and improve early diagnosis, suggest findings from the OptiRef study.

A large meta-analysis has found that individuals with musculoskeletal conditions may have an increased risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

David Sherry discusses various pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments for management of pediatric fibromyalgia, and outlines the impact of an interdisciplinary approach on physical function, mental health and pain outcomes in these patients.

Editorial board member Sangeeta Sule discusses the challenges faced when managing chronic pain in children and adolescents.

Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that a substantial proportion of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis have concomitant fibromyalgia, which may influence measures of disease activity.