Managing musculoskeletal pain in an elderly woman.

Musculoskeletal conditions are common and a major cause of chronic pain; more than nine million people in the UK are affected by arthritis alone. Successful treatment of pain can lead to increased physical activity with consequent improvement of muscle tone around the affected joints. In older patients with multiple comorbidities, fewer therapeutic approaches or surgical interventions tend to be indicated. Where opioid therapy is unsuccessful, possible strategies include opioid rotation and/or changing route of administration.