The Nerve of Osteoarthritis Pain

Historically, OA pain has been presumed to be the result of tissue damage in the joint. More recently however, OA pain is being attributed not only to joint-tissue damage but to possible neurological (nerve-related) mechanisms. Pain that results from nervous system problems is called neuropathic pain. Dr. Jacqueline Hochman, a rheumatologist and MSc candidate at the University of Toronto, is studying the link between OA pain and the nervous system. Her research will take an important first step toward identifying the relationship of pain symptoms to nervous system signs in patients with knee OA. As effective medications exist for the treatment of neuropathic pain, the identification of this type of pain in patients with OA could lead to improved treatment and quality of life, and reduced disability among people with OA.