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Mediterr J Rheumatol 2016;27(4):209-10
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Chronic knee osteoarthritis: Aiming at pain management
Panagiotis Athanassiou1, Ifigenia Kostoglou-Athanassiou2, Aikaterini Tzanavari1, Achilles Georgiadis3, Ioanna Siafaka4, Michael Koutsilieris5
Authors Information

1: Department of Rheumatology, St. Paul’s Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

2: Department of Endocrinology, Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece

3: “Lito” Hospital, Athens, Greece

4: Department of Anesthesiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece

5: Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece
Abstract
Chronic knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It affects a large group of the population, especially the middle-aged and older. The etiologic management of the disease is not possible today, although efforts are made for the application of novel methods, such as the application of blastocytes. The local application of capsaicin is a novel method for pain management in chronic osteoarthritis. Lidocaine patches represent an alternative for pain management in knee osteoarthritis. The oral administration of diacerein is another approach, as it has been proved to diminish the production of inflammatory cytokines observed in chronic pain. The aim is to study the effect of the local application of capsaicin 8% and local application of lidocaine 5% and the oral administration of diacerein on pain in chronic knee osteoarthritis. Methods for the etiologic management of chronic osteoarthritis do not exist. Currently used treatment options such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration are fraught with side effects. The application of novel methods with limited side effects for the management of pain is very important, as it may offer a therapeutic method for a problem affecting a large population group.
Keywords: osteoarthritis, pain, chronic pain, pain management