Arthritis Pain, Disability Has Daily Cycle: Study

[Guest guest]

Health - Reuters

Arthritis Pain, Disability Has Daily Cycle: Study

30 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many people with arthritis in their hands

experience a daily fluctuation in pain, stiffness and dexterity, and tend to

feel best in the afternoon, according to researchers.

These findings may provide doctors with a better idea of when to time

arthritis treatment, report Dr. N. Bellamy of Mayne Medical School in

Brisbane, Australia and colleagues. In addition, patients who can anticipate

how much pain they will feel at different times may be better able to

schedule daily activities around their condition, they note.

According to Bellamy's team, most patients with osteoarthritis in their

hands say that the pain and stiffness they feel varies over the course of

the day, and they feel the least pain and stiffness at a few minutes after 4

PM. As pain and stiffness improve, the investigators found that patients

also notice an improvement in their dexterity, peaking each day at a few

minutes before 4 PM.

These findings indicate that pain from arthritis, like many other body

systems, runs on a " clock. " The body's internal 24-hour clock, or circadian

rhythm, controls when we sleep and wake, and plays a role in other

biological processes as well, such as hormone production and blood pressure.

The main circadian clock is in the brain, but there are so-called peripheral

clocks throughout the body, including the skin.

All patients in the current study suffered from osteoarthritis, which occurs

when the cartilage that cushions joints breaks down, leading to pain and

swelling. In the US, osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability among

the elderly. There is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, and treatment

focuses on reducing symptoms.

Reporting in the December issue of ls of the Rheumatic Diseases, Bellamy

and colleagues write that they have shown in previous research that pain,

stiffness and dexterity shows a 24-hour cycle in many patients with

osteoarthritis in their knees, and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This form of arthritis occurs when the immune system, for unknown reasons,

mistakenly attacks the joints, leading to inflammation, swelling and pain.

In the current study, Bellamy and colleagues asked 21 patients with hand

osteoarthritis to record how much pain and stiffness they felt at six

different times during the day, for 10 days in a row. At the same time, the

patients completed a test of hand dexterity, in which they had to place

beads in a narrow tube.

The investigators found that the vast majority of patients reported they

felt a 24-hour fluctuation in their levels of pain, stiffness and dexterity.

They appeared to feel the least pain at 4:10 PM, the least stiffness at 4:18

PM, and the most dexterity at 3:48 PM.

" Assuming that these findings are generalisable to the OA hand population as

a whole, there are important implications for scheduling activities of daily

living, for measurement in clinical trials, and possibly for the time at

which antirheumatic drugs are given, " Bellamy and colleagues write.

SOURCE: ls of the Rheumatic Diseases 2002;61:1075-1080. Health - Reuters

Arthritis Pain, Disability Has Daily Cycle: Study

30 minutes ago

Add Health - Reuters to My

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many people with arthritis in their hands

experience a daily fluctuation in pain, stiffness and dexterity, and tend to

feel best in the afternoon, according to researchers.

These findings may provide doctors with a better idea of when to time

arthritis treatment, report Dr. N. Bellamy of Mayne Medical School in

Brisbane, Australia and colleagues. In addition, patients who can anticipate

how much pain they will feel at different times may be better able to

schedule daily activities around their condition, they note.

According to Bellamy's team, most patients with osteoarthritis in their

hands say that the pain and stiffness they feel varies over the course of

the day, and they feel the least pain and stiffness at a few minutes after 4

PM. As pain and stiffness improve, the investigators found that patients

also notice an improvement in their dexterity, peaking each day at a few

minutes before 4 PM.

These findings indicate that pain from arthritis, like many other body

systems, runs on a " clock. " The body's internal 24-hour clock, or circadian

rhythm, controls when we sleep and wake, and plays a role in other

biological processes as well, such as hormone production and blood pressure.

The main circadian clock is in the brain, but there are so-called peripheral

clocks throughout the body, including the skin.

All patients in the current study suffered from osteoarthritis, which occurs

when the cartilage that cushions joints breaks down, leading to pain and

swelling. In the US, osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability among

the elderly. There is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, and treatment

focuses on reducing symptoms.

Reporting in the December issue of ls of the Rheumatic Diseases, Bellamy

and colleagues write that they have shown in previous research that pain,

stiffness and dexterity shows a 24-hour cycle in many patients with

osteoarthritis in their knees, and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This form of arthritis occurs when the immune system, for unknown reasons,

mistakenly attacks the joints, leading to inflammation, swelling and pain.

In the current study, Bellamy and colleagues asked 21 patients with hand

osteoarthritis to record how much pain and stiffness they felt at six

different times during the day, for 10 days in a row. At the same time, the

patients completed a test of hand dexterity, in which they had to place

beads in a narrow tube.

The investigators found that the vast majority of patients reported they

felt a 24-hour fluctuation in their levels of pain, stiffness and dexterity.

They appeared to feel the least pain at 4:10 PM, the least stiffness at 4:18

PM, and the most dexterity at 3:48 PM.

" Assuming that these findings are generalisable to the OA hand population as

a whole, there are important implications for scheduling activities of daily

living, for measurement in clinical trials, and possibly for the time at

which antirheumatic drugs are given, " Bellamy and colleagues write.

SOURCE: ls of the Rheumatic Diseases 2002;61:1075-1080.

[Guest guest]

Once again, they needed a study to ascertain this? Although this talks

about OA, I think my RA is best in the afternoon also. Mornings are hell,

and evenings are almost as bad. From 11 - 3 is my best time, I think.

Love to all,

Carol

[Carol ] [ ] Arthritis Pain, Disability Has Daily Cycle: Study

Health - Reuters

Arthritis Pain, Disability Has Daily Cycle: Study

30 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many people with arthritis in their hands

experience a daily fluctuation in pain, stiffness and dexterity, and tend

to

feel best in the afternoon, according to researchers.

These findings may provide doctors with a better idea of when to time

arthritis treatment, report Dr. N. Bellamy of Mayne Medical School in

Brisbane, Australia and colleagues. In addition, patients who can

anticipate

how much pain they will feel at different times may be better able to

schedule daily activities around their condition, they note.

According to Bellamy's team, most patients with osteoarthritis in their

hands say that the pain and stiffness they feel varies over the course of

the day, and they feel the least pain and stiffness at a few minutes after

4

PM. As pain and stiffness improve, the investigators found that patients

also notice an improvement in their dexterity, peaking each day at a few

minutes before 4 PM.

These findings indicate that pain from arthritis, like many other body

systems, runs on a " clock. " The body's internal 24-hour clock, or

circadian

rhythm, controls when we sleep and wake, and plays a role in other

biological processes as well, such as hormone production and blood

pressure.

The main circadian clock is in the brain, but there are so-called

peripheral

clocks throughout the body, including the skin.

All patients in the current study suffered from osteoarthritis, which

occurs

when the cartilage that cushions joints breaks down, leading to pain and

swelling. In the US, osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability among

the elderly. There is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, and treatment

focuses on reducing symptoms.

Reporting in the December issue of ls of the Rheumatic Diseases,

Bellamy

and colleagues write that they have shown in previous research that pain,

stiffness and dexterity shows a 24-hour cycle in many patients with

osteoarthritis in their knees, and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This form of arthritis occurs when the immune system, for unknown reasons,

mistakenly attacks the joints, leading to inflammation, swelling and pain.

In the current study, Bellamy and colleagues asked 21 patients with hand

osteoarthritis to record how much pain and stiffness they felt at six

different times during the day, for 10 days in a row. At the same time,

the

patients completed a test of hand dexterity, in which they had to place

beads in a narrow tube.

The investigators found that the vast majority of patients reported they

felt a 24-hour fluctuation in their levels of pain, stiffness and

dexterity.

They appeared to feel the least pain at 4:10 PM, the least stiffness at

4:18

PM, and the most dexterity at 3:48 PM.

" Assuming that these findings are generalisable to the OA hand population

as

a whole, there are important implications for scheduling activities of

daily

living, for measurement in clinical trials, and possibly for the time at

which antirheumatic drugs are given, " Bellamy and colleagues write.

SOURCE: ls of the Rheumatic Diseases 2002;61:1075-1080. Health -

Reuters

Arthritis Pain, Disability Has Daily Cycle: Study

30 minutes ago

Add Health - Reuters to My

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many people with arthritis in their hands

experience a daily fluctuation in pain, stiffness and dexterity, and tend

to

feel best in the afternoon, according to researchers.

These findings may provide doctors with a better idea of when to time

arthritis treatment, report Dr. N. Bellamy of Mayne Medical School in

Brisbane, Australia and colleagues. In addition, patients who can

anticipate

how much pain they will feel at different times may be better able to

schedule daily activities around their condition, they note.

According to Bellamy's team, most patients with osteoarthritis in their

hands say that the pain and stiffness they feel varies over the course of

the day, and they feel the least pain and stiffness at a few minutes after

4

PM. As pain and stiffness improve, the investigators found that patients

also notice an improvement in their dexterity, peaking each day at a few

minutes before 4 PM.

These findings indicate that pain from arthritis, like many other body

systems, runs on a " clock. " The body's internal 24-hour clock, or

circadian

rhythm, controls when we sleep and wake, and plays a role in other

biological processes as well, such as hormone production and blood

pressure.

The main circadian clock is in the brain, but there are so-called

peripheral

clocks throughout the body, including the skin.

All patients in the current study suffered from osteoarthritis, which

occurs

when the cartilage that cushions joints breaks down, leading to pain and

swelling. In the US, osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability among

the elderly. There is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, and treatment

focuses on reducing symptoms.

Reporting in the December issue of ls of the Rheumatic Diseases,

Bellamy

and colleagues write that they have shown in previous research that pain,

stiffness and dexterity shows a 24-hour cycle in many patients with

osteoarthritis in their knees, and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This form of arthritis occurs when the immune system, for unknown reasons,

mistakenly attacks the joints, leading to inflammation, swelling and pain.

In the current study, Bellamy and colleagues asked 21 patients with hand

osteoarthritis to record how much pain and stiffness they felt at six

different times during the day, for 10 days in a row. At the same time,

the

patients completed a test of hand dexterity, in which they had to place

beads in a narrow tube.

The investigators found that the vast majority of patients reported they

felt a 24-hour fluctuation in their levels of pain, stiffness and

dexterity.

They appeared to feel the least pain at 4:10 PM, the least stiffness at

4:18

PM, and the most dexterity at 3:48 PM.

" Assuming that these findings are generalisable to the OA hand population

as

a whole, there are important implications for scheduling activities of

daily

living, for measurement in clinical trials, and possibly for the time at

which antirheumatic drugs are given, " Bellamy and colleagues write.

SOURCE: ls of the Rheumatic Diseases 2002;61:1075-1080.

[Guest guest]

My thought exactly Carol! This is such a waste of money. They¹ve known

this for many years and I¹m sure I could think of much better ways to spend

valuable research monies. Like buy a few hot tubs so that they can give us

relief, not more unnecessary studies proving what they already know.

a

> Once again, they needed a study to ascertain this? Although this talks

> about OA, I think my RA is best in the afternoon also. Mornings are hell,

> and evenings are almost as bad. From 11 - 3 is my best time, I think.

>

> Love to all,

> Carol

>

> [Carol ] [ ] Arthritis Pain, Disability Has Daily Cycle: Study

>

>

> Health - Reuters

> Arthritis Pain, Disability Has Daily Cycle: Study

> 30 minutes ago

>

[Guest guest]

Amen to the hot tubs! ;-)

[ ] Arthritis Pain, Disability Has Daily Cycle: Study

>

>

> Health - Reuters

> Arthritis Pain, Disability Has Daily Cycle: Study

> 30 minutes ago

>