Researchers at Keele University and Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust have started two new studies, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to improve the treatment of pain in people with inflammatory arthritis.  

Inflammatory arthritis, which affects over 1% of adults in England, refers to conditions causing joint inflammation. The most common types are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis.  

Many people with inflammatory arthritis suffer daily pain, which is often treated with strong pain medicines called opioids and gabapentinoids for long periods of time. However, no studies have looked at whether these medicines are actually helpful when used like this. They also often cause side-effects.   

Other treatments have been shown to help pain, like exercise and talking therapies. However, little is known about how often people with inflammatory arthritis receive these.  

To improve pain for people with inflammatory arthritis, we first need to know how it is currently being treated, which is the focus of these studies being undertaken in partnership with two charities - the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society and the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society - and the Norfolk Arthritis Register.  

The first study (PAIN PATH Survey) involves people with inflammatory arthritis completing a one-off online questionnaire about their pain and the care they have received for this pain. People who report using pain medicines in the past month may then also be able to take part in the second study (the PAIN PATH Longitudinal Study), which involves them answering questions every week for three months to understand how much pain they have and how they use pain medicines.  

Lead researcher, Dr Ian Scott, Reader in Rheumatology and Consultant Rheumatologist, said: “I am very excited to be working with so many people, including our national patient organisations, on these important studies. Pain is a major challenge for people with inflammatory arthritis. We will use the findings from the PAIN PATH studies to understand how to better manage pain in people with inflammatory arthritis in the NHS.”  

For more information about the studies, visit the Keele University website.