Pain Management for Spondyloarthritis with Dr. Clauw

The podcast explores the types and management of pain experienced by people with spondyloarthritis, featuring Dr. Clauw, an expert in chronic pain and fatigue research. It identifies three types of pain: nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic, with a focus on the often-overlooked nociplastic pain, which originates in the central nervous system. Dr. Clauw notes that a third of autoimmune disease patients also experience fibromyalgia-like pain. The discussion covers treatment options, distinguishing between pharmacological approaches for nociceptive versus nociplastic pain, and emphasizes non-drug therapies like exercise, sleep improvement, and mindfulness. The importance of setting functional goals, like being able to hug a child, to motivate patients through the difficult process of pain management is highlighted.