Pain profile and opioid medication use in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
Pain in Myositis Is Real!
The MSU pain article: “Pain profile and opioid medication use in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies” published in Rheumatology was a groundbreaking moment for the myositis community and MSU ‘Right Now” Research
What Was This Study About?
This study looked at how common pain is in people living with Myositis, a rare muscle disease that causes weakness and other symptoms. Researchers also wanted to understand how people with Myositis manage their pain, including the use of opioid and non-opioid medications.
Who Conducted the Study?
The study was led by Myositis Support and Understanding (MSU), a patient-led advocacy group that wanted to highlight the pain experiences of people living with Myositis. In 2019 MSU launched a community call to challenge the belief that myositis is not painful.
How Was the Study Done?
MSU created a survey and shared it with its members. A total of 468 people responded, and 423 were included in the final analysis. The study focused on three types of myositis:
- Dermatomyositis (DM)
- Polymyositis (PM)
- Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM)
Researchers then used statistical analysis to see how pain experiences differed among these groups.
Key Findings
- Age Impacts Pain Experience
- People over 60 years old were less likely to report pain.
- Most People Use Pain Medication
- Of the 387 people who reported pain, 335 (about 87%) said they used pain medications to manage it.
- 69% of them used opioid medications (strong pain relievers often prescribed for severe pain).
- Different Myositis Types Didn’t Affect Choice of Non-Opioid Medication. The use of non-opioid medications (such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or neuropathic medications like gabapentin) was not linked to gender, age, or Myositis type.
Why Does This Matter?
Pain is often overlooked in Myositis, even though it has a major impact on quality of life. This study shows that pain management needs to be a bigger priority in Myositis care. It also highlights the need for more research to find better and more effective treatments beyond opioids.
Bottom Line:
Pain is a major issue for people with Myositis, and most rely on pain medications, including opioids. Doctors and researchers need to do more to address pain as a key part of Myositis treatment.
Pain profile and opioid medication use in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, published in Rheumatology, is the groundbreaking study on pain in myositis, initiated as a call to action by the myositis community to challenge the belief that myositis is not painful.
