New concepts in rheumatic pain.

The inclusion of pain as the fifth vital sign in clinical medicine underlines the importance of this symptom. Pain that is consistently present in any rheumatic condition should be considered a specific disease entity, which should be actively managed in parallel with the rheumatic complaint. Rheumatic pain is the most prevalent pain syndrome worldwide and will be experienced by almost all persons during their lifetime. Pain results in a significant burden of suffering that affects overall well-being as well as sleep, mood, and energy. Understanding of pain mechanisms from the anatomic and molecular perspectives has advanced, prompting the use of more varied pain interventions beyond simple analgesic medications.