Tag Archives: arthritis pain

arthritis pain awareness

Open Letter to America from the Arthritis Foundation About Pain

Arthritis is painful … and it’s relentless. The Arthritis Foundation knows the pain our community endures. Based on a survey of arthritis patients, we know that:

  • The #1 goal of arthritis treatment is to “reduce pain.”
  • The #1 motivator for seeking out information is “I experienced pain.”

Pain is not an easy topic to discuss, but if we bring it out of the shadows, we believe the result will be eye-opening for everyone – and uplifting in mind, body and soul for the 54 million Americans who suffer from arthritis pain. The Arthritis Foundation is advancing a national conversation about the true pain – physical and emotional – that arthritis causes.

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opiod alternatives for arthritis pain

Two Studies Highlight Opioid Alternatives

The United States has been grappling with a growing opioid epidemic that is forcing doctors, policymakers and patients to come up with alternative ways to manage both chronic and acute pain and reduce the amount of opioid prescribing in the country. A pair of studies presented recently at the 2018 meeting of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) in New Orleans examine two possibilities for patients undergoing surgery.

The first study found that counseling before surgery significantly cuts the number of opioids patients take after hand surgery. And the second study, led by the same doctor, showed that ibuprofen and acetaminophen each treats postsurgical pain from hand surgery as well as oxycodone.

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pain awareness month

September Is Pain Awareness Month

September is Pain Awareness Month – when we raise public awareness about the chronic pain nearly 100 million Americans experience and ways to effectively manage it.

Everyone has acute pain from time to time, typically coming from an injury, like cutting a finger or pulling a muscle; usually the pain goes away within 30 days or once the injury heals. Chronic pain, on the other hand, persists or progresses; your body keeps hurting for weeks, months or even years.

If you have arthritis, you may experience chronic pain.

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CDC Arthritis Study

More Americans Report Arthritis-Related Limitations Than 15 Years Ago

More than 54 million adults in the United States have some form of arthritis and, for nearly half of them, the pain, stiffness and joint damage make daily life harder, according to a new report released in early March by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the report notes that the prevalence of arthritis has not changed significantly since 2002, it does highlight a 20 percent jump in the percentage of people who have arthritis-attributable limitations in activities – that is, trouble with simple tasks such as lifting a grocery bag or walking a few blocks.
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Arthritis Daily Struggle Research

Arthritis Foundation Survey Finds Nearly 75% of Arthritis Patients Struggle with Arthritis Daily

Leading the fight towards a cure for arthritis is a huge responsibility. In order to provide the best tools, resources, and information, it’s crucial to understand the daily struggle and pain experienced by the over 50 million people suffering with the disease. Earlier this year, the Arthritis Foundation teamed up with Nielsen to conduct a nationwide survey to gain a deeper understanding of the everyday challenges faced by people living with arthritis.

The survey was administered to 1,478 people, including people with arthritis who both have and have not engaged with the Arthritis Foundation, as well as parents of children with juvenile arthritis. Survey results show that pain continues to limit and hinder people with arthritis, making it challenging to execute self-care, attend school and work, or participate in recreational activities. In fact, nearly 3 in 4 (73%) of respondents strongly/somewhat agreed that they “struggle with arthritis daily.”

In addition to the Arthritis Foundation study, earlier this year, Iroko Pharmaceuticals, LLC, funded a survey, Understanding America’s Pain, which found that many Americans lack a basic understanding about pain medications and the potential risks they pose.  The study revealed that, in addition to the lack of understanding, only 30 percent of respondents who experience pain feel their pain is completely controlled.

Pain is a significant side effect of arthritis and can be debilitating. Understanding your pain and learning how to manage it is extremely important; that’s why we’re continually developing tools and resources like Breaking the Arthritis Pain Chain Toolkit, the Arthritis Resource Finder, YES (Your Exercise Solution) Tool, and Better Living Toolkit to provide tips, support and ideas for how to overcome the daily challenges of living with arthritis and improve your quality of life.

The Arthritis Foundation is reviewing the comprehensive results of its study conducted by Harris Poll to identify and introduce new resources to help people with arthritis cope with pain so we can continue to make a difference in the lives of the millions of Americans living with the disease.

Methodology
The Arthritis Foundation survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation between June 3 and July 13, 2016, among 1478 U.S. adults aged 18 or older who are diagnosed with arthritis or the parent of a child with arthritis who is under the age of 18.  The sample included 722 adults with arthritis who are members of the Arthritis Foundation. Results have been weighted to be representative of key population demographics such gender, age, race, geography, and education among the general population. Among Arthritis Foundation members data has been weighted proportionately to represent the populations of involvement groups outlined above. For more information on the study please contact Claire Villines, communications manager, Arthritis Foundation.

 

Arthritis Pain management Toolkit

Announcing the New Breaking the Arthritis Pain Chain Toolkit

When you think of arthritis one of the first things that comes to mind is pain. Pain can be all consuming; whether it’s burning, aching, or stiffness it’s not only an annoyance, it can affect every aspect of your life. You shouldn’t have to just “live” with the pain either. It is possible to manage your pain and improve your quality of life.
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