Treatment of Central Sensitization in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Narrative Overview

L. Meert; R.J.E.M. Smeets; I. Baert; M. Mertens; A. Boonen; M. Meeus

doi:10.1007/s40674-019-00125-x

Treatment of Central Sensitization in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Narrative Overview

L. Meert, R.J.E.M. Smeets, I. Baert, M. Mertens, A. Boonen, M. Meeus^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

255 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose of reviewCentral sensitization (CS) is present in a variety of chronic pain conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An overview of the treatment options for desensitizing the central nervous system in RA patients, with CS as their dominant pain mechanism, is provided.Recent findingsThe treatment of pain in RA patients has mostly focused on treating inflammation to indirectly treat pain. Unfortunately, little research has focused on treating CS, which appears to be present in some patients with RA.Summary"Treating the brain without ignoring the joints" should be the leading principle in the management of CS in RA patients. Pain neuroscience education, graded activity, and a time-contingent exercise approach are important interventions to implement in clinical practice. Further research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these promising treatments for diminishing hyperexcitability of the central nervous system in RA patients with CS as their dominant pain mechanism.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	179-189
Number of pages	11
Journal	Current Treatment Options in Rheumatology
Volume	5
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s40674-019-00125-x
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2019

Keywords

Central sensitization
Chronic pain
Pain processing
Central nervous system sensitization
rheumatoid arthritis

Access to Document

10.1007/s40674-019-00125-x

Full TextFinal published version, 232 KBLicence: Taverne

Cite this

@article{4a44d7fdfb1448428de32dbaa9a6fbb7,

title = "Treatment of Central Sensitization in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Narrative Overview",

abstract = "Purpose of reviewCentral sensitization (CS) is present in a variety of chronic pain conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An overview of the treatment options for desensitizing the central nervous system in RA patients, with CS as their dominant pain mechanism, is provided.Recent findingsThe treatment of pain in RA patients has mostly focused on treating inflammation to indirectly treat pain. Unfortunately, little research has focused on treating CS, which appears to be present in some patients with RA.Summary{"}Treating the brain without ignoring the joints{"} should be the leading principle in the management of CS in RA patients. Pain neuroscience education, graded activity, and a time-contingent exercise approach are important interventions to implement in clinical practice. Further research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these promising treatments for diminishing hyperexcitability of the central nervous system in RA patients with CS as their dominant pain mechanism.",

keywords = "Central sensitization, Chronic pain, Pain processing, Central nervous system sensitization, rheumatoid arthritis",

author = "L. Meert and R.J.E.M. Smeets and I. Baert and M. Mertens and A. Boonen and M. Meeus",

year = "2019",

month = sep,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1007/s40674-019-00125-x",

language = "English",

volume = "5",

pages = "179--189",

journal = "Current Treatment Options in Rheumatology",

issn = "2198-6002",

publisher = "Springer",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Treatment of Central Sensitization in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Narrative Overview

AU - Meert, L.

AU - Smeets, R.J.E.M.

AU - Baert, I.

AU - Mertens, M.

AU - Boonen, A.

AU - Meeus, M.

PY - 2019/9/1

Y1 - 2019/9/1

N2 - Purpose of reviewCentral sensitization (CS) is present in a variety of chronic pain conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An overview of the treatment options for desensitizing the central nervous system in RA patients, with CS as their dominant pain mechanism, is provided.Recent findingsThe treatment of pain in RA patients has mostly focused on treating inflammation to indirectly treat pain. Unfortunately, little research has focused on treating CS, which appears to be present in some patients with RA.Summary"Treating the brain without ignoring the joints" should be the leading principle in the management of CS in RA patients. Pain neuroscience education, graded activity, and a time-contingent exercise approach are important interventions to implement in clinical practice. Further research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these promising treatments for diminishing hyperexcitability of the central nervous system in RA patients with CS as their dominant pain mechanism.

AB - Purpose of reviewCentral sensitization (CS) is present in a variety of chronic pain conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An overview of the treatment options for desensitizing the central nervous system in RA patients, with CS as their dominant pain mechanism, is provided.Recent findingsThe treatment of pain in RA patients has mostly focused on treating inflammation to indirectly treat pain. Unfortunately, little research has focused on treating CS, which appears to be present in some patients with RA.Summary"Treating the brain without ignoring the joints" should be the leading principle in the management of CS in RA patients. Pain neuroscience education, graded activity, and a time-contingent exercise approach are important interventions to implement in clinical practice. Further research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these promising treatments for diminishing hyperexcitability of the central nervous system in RA patients with CS as their dominant pain mechanism.

KW - Central sensitization

KW - Chronic pain

KW - Pain processing

KW - Central nervous system sensitization

KW - rheumatoid arthritis

U2 - 10.1007/s40674-019-00125-x

DO - 10.1007/s40674-019-00125-x

M3 - Article

SN - 2198-6002

VL - 5

SP - 179

EP - 189

JO - Current Treatment Options in Rheumatology

JF - Current Treatment Options in Rheumatology

IS - 3

ER -