Maria Bergström1, Inger Ahlstrand2, Ingrid Thyberg3,4, Torbjörn Falkmer2,5,6, Björn Börsbo7, Mathilda Björk1,3. 1. a Department of Social and Welfare Studies , Linköping University , Norrköping , Sweden. 2. b Department of Rehabilitation , School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University , Jönköping , Sweden. 3. c Department of Rheumatology , Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden. 4. d Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden. 5. e School of Occupational Therapy & Social Work , CHIRI, Curtin University , Perth , WA , Australia. 6. f Department of Medical and Health Sciences , Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden. 7. g Division of Community Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences , Linköping University, Pain and Rehabilitation Center, Anesthetics, Operations and Specialty Surgery Center, County Council of Östergötland , Linköping , Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease often associated with disability. Despite new treatments, pain and activity limitations are still present. OBJECTIVES: To describe how persons with RA experience and manage pain in their daily life. METHODS: Seven semi-structured focus groups (FGs) were conducted and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: The analysis revealed four categories: 1) Pain expresses itself in different ways referred to pain as overwhelming, aching or as a feeling of stiffness. 2) Mitigating pain referred to the use of heat, cold, medications and activities as distractions from the pain. 3) Adapting to pain referred to strategies employed as coping mechanisms for the pain, e.g. planning and adjustment of daily activities, and use of assistive devices. 4) Pain in a social context referred to the participants' social environment as being both supportive and uncomprehending, the latter causing patients to hide their pain. CONCLUSIONS: Pain in RA is experienced in different ways. This emphasizes the multi-professional team to address this spectrum of experiences and to find pain management directed to the individual experience that also include the person's social environment.
BACKGROUND:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease often associated with disability. Despite new treatments, pain and activity limitations are still present. OBJECTIVES: To describe how persons with RA experience and manage pain in their daily life. METHODS: Seven semi-structured focus groups (FGs) were conducted and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: The analysis revealed four categories: 1) Pain expresses itself in different ways referred to pain as overwhelming, aching or as a feeling of stiffness. 2) Mitigating pain referred to the use of heat, cold, medications and activities as distractions from the pain. 3) Adapting to pain referred to strategies employed as coping mechanisms for the pain, e.g. planning and adjustment of daily activities, and use of assistive devices. 4) Pain in a social context referred to the participants' social environment as being both supportive and uncomprehending, the latter causing patients to hide their pain. CONCLUSIONS:Pain in RA is experienced in different ways. This emphasizes the multi-professional team to address this spectrum of experiences and to find pain management directed to the individual experience that also include the person's social environment.
Entities:
Keywords:
Activities; adapting to pain; mitigating pain; social environment
Authors: Suz Jack Chan; Lisa K Stamp; Nicola Liebergreen; Henry Ndukwe; Carlo Marra; Gareth J Treharne Journal: Patient Date: 2020-04 Impact factor: 3.883