Pain and hyperalgesia in osteoarthritis of the hands

Abstract

Objective. Tissue damage and pain can lead to a change in the stimulus/response characteristics of the nociceptive system. Hyperalgesia has been described in experimental pain states and some clinical conditions, but has not been investigated in osteoarthritis (OA). We sought to establish the presence of hyperalgesia at the thumb in subjects with OA of the hand and to explore any relationship between sensitivity to extrinsic stimuli and the experience of clinical pain. Methods. Subjects with OA of the hand were divided into groups according to their pain profile. The sample also included pain-free OA cases and pain-free controls. Intensity ratings were obtained for each of 3 types of pain: c..