The Biology of Pain - Through the Rheumatology Lens.

Chronic pain is a major socio-economic burden globally. The most frequent origin for chronic pain is musculoskeletal. In inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chronic pain is a primary determinant of deleterious quality of life. The pivotal role of peripheral inflammation in the initiation and perpetuation of nociceptive pain is well-established among these patients. However, the persistence of pain, even after the apparent resolution of peripheral inflammation, alludes to the co-existence of different pain states. Recent advances in neurobiological knowledge have highlighted the importance of nociplastic pain mechanisms. In this review we aim to explore the biology of pain with a particular focus on nociplastic pain and RA. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.