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Many patients with knee, hip and spine osteoarthritis use opioids to manage chronic pain

November 6, 2017

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A large percentage of patients with end-stage knee, hip and spine osteoarthritis use opioids to manage their chronic pain, especially those who are younger or have symptoms of depression, according to new research findings presented this week at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego.

Osteoarthritis, or OA, is the most common joint disease affecting middle-aged and older people. It is characterized by progressive damage to the joint cartilage-;the cushioning material at the end of long bones-;and causes changes in the structures around the joint. OA commonly affects the knees, hips, spine, hands and other joints.

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