The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7416 p285-288
2 September 2006

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Promoting self care of joint pain

Joint pain is a common condition and pharmacists are ideally placed to provide advice to patients on managing the condition. John Dickson discusses joint pain, its causes, cases for referral and treatments available

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SUMMARY

Joint pain is a common condition requiring a multi-faceted approach. Psychological factors can have as much impact as physiological ones and a self-care approach to joint pain may be beneficial. This article aims to provide a practical and relevant guide to help pharmacists facilitate self care of joint pain.

Joint pain is a huge problem in the UK, with almost nine million people (19 per cent of the population) visiting their GP in the past year with arthritis and related conditions. It is a major cause of disability and the second most common cause of days off work for both men and women.

Joint pain is the main symptom of many different musculoskeletal conditions, including all types of arthritis, connective tissue disease, back pain, osteoporosis and soft tissue rheumatism. The most common joint disease in the UK is osteoarthritis (OA), which can vary from mild to debilitating and is often associated with flare-ups followed by periods of remission. In addition, many people suffer joint pain of a non-specific origin, which they may attribute to overuse, ageing or even the weather. Patients with joint pain from all causes may seek advice and treatment recommendations in the pharmacy.

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