Table 2.
Impact of pain interference in patients with RA
| Areas of impact due to pain, and representative quote | Number of participants reporting impact (N = 32) |
|---|---|
| Physical functioning | 32 |
|
“I can’t go out and do a nice long walk with my husband. I can go halfway up the block and back, that’s about it.” (Female, age 66) “I won’t be able to write – sometimes, … with the inflammation, is really bad, it’s a struggle.” (Female, age 38) “I don’t really do that many recreational activities anymore. I just can’t really do them, except activities where I just sit there and watch things, but then even that get a little bit difficult because it gets uncomfortable to sit in one position.” (Female, age 48) | |
| Lower body impairments | 32 |
| Standing | 30 |
| Walking | 25 |
| Sitting | 20 |
| Kneeling, crouching, bending | 15 |
| Staying still | 14 |
| Climbing stairs | 11 |
| Running | 10 |
| Pressing down | 1 |
| Lifting with legs | 1 |
| Upper body impairments | 28 |
| Grip strength, manual dexterity | 26 |
| Lifting with arms/hands | 12 |
| Raising arms | 7 |
| Staying still | 2 |
| Impact to leisure, recreational or exercise | 24 |
| Fatigue, lethargy | 9 |
| Difficulty adjusting the body due to pain from RA | 4 |
| Sexual dysfunction | 2 |
| Emotional functioning | 32 |
| “I was just thinking how much [pain from RA has] affected my life and how miserable I am.” (Female, age 52) | |
| Sadness, depression | 24 |
| Irritability, snappishness | 17 |
| Difficulty enjoying life/activities | 15 |
| Discouraged | 14 |
| Frustration, stress | 14 |
| Fear, anxiety | 10 |
| Burdensomeness | 8 |
| Anger | 5 |
| Embarrassment | 5 |
| Self-consciousness | 5 |
| Increased sensitivity | 3 |
| Guilt | 2 |
| Role functioning | 32 |
| “[Pain from RA] was affecting my other job because my other job required me to move around more. I had to get a job now where I can sit down in front of two monitors.” (Male, age 45) | |
| Difficulty performing chores/errands | 29 |
| Impacts on work | 21 |
| Role changes, needing assistance | 19 |
| Difficulty leaving the house | 13 |
| Difficulty driving | 4 |
| Social functioning | 31 |
| “I don’t go out, … because of the pain. I don’t like being around a bunch of people.” (Male, age 65) | |
| Unable to participate | 29 |
| Personal relationships | 22 |
| Social isolation | 19 |
| Difficulty planning, having to cancel | 16 |
| Misunderstood by others | 15 |
| Masking symptoms | 6 |
| Activities of daily living | 23 |
| “Some days I think, “Oh, I’m going to take a long walk.” I don’t – that day I might not even get out of bed. That day I might not even be able to put my shoes on. Because my feet hurt so bad.” (Female, age 36) | |
| Reduced activity | 17 |
| Difficulty dressing | 13 |
| Difficulty washing/grooming | 10 |
| Difficulty toileting | 5 |
| Difficulty eating | 1 |
| Cognitive functioning | 22 |
| “If I’m concentrating on a task at hand and I’m having to do some things, [the pain] very much hampers my concentration because I cannot actually fulfill what I’m trying to do because I’m too busy paying attention to my pain.” (Male, age 37) | |
| Difficulty concentrating | 19 |
| Difficulty remembering | 9 |