Pain management in the older adult with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

The study's major purpose was to explore the pain management of the older adult with rheumatic disease. Medication, rest, heat, distraction, exercise, and talking with others were methods most often used by older adults (n = 31). Methods identified by them as most helpful included medication, rest, and heat. When the pain management techniques of those adults 65 and over were compared with those of younger adults (n = 51), several differences were noted. The combined number of methods used by the younger group was significantly greater, and they rated relaxation techniques as being significantly more helpful. Increasing the elderly arthritis patient's repertoire of pain management modalities and measuring the ongoing individual effectiveness of the individual and combined methods used are identified as needs to be addressed in improving pain management.