Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition. Medication or therapy cannot completely resolve it. The chronic disease affects several people globally, particularly in their later years. 

The WHO reports that over 18 million people face rheumatoid arthritis, 70% of whom are women. Younger people are also at risk due to lifestyle factors, like smoking and obesity, and non-modifiable genetic predisposition.

Medical professionals typically use physical therapy and medication to treat this musculoskeletal condition. This treatment can address some of the symptoms, like pain and fatigue. Lately, the healthcare community has started to advise empathy as a potent medicine for rheumatoid arthritis.

But wait—isn’t empathy only a feel-good solution to making patients feel more positive and in control of their lives? The newest research in this field indicates otherwise. Empathy may actually have pain-relieving properties, which makes it crucial for doctors and nurses to learn how to administer it.

The Connection Between Empathy and Pain Relief

Musculoskeletal conditions can be debilitating, causing pain and fatigue that interfere with daily activities. As arthritis progresses, many patients suffer from swelling and joint mobility issues. Anti-inflammatory drugs are the standard prescription, but they don’t often show results. So, can empathy really do anything?

As it turns out, empathy may be one of the most capable additions to the pain-management toolkit. A new iBrain paper finds a relationship between arthritis pain severity and empathy. This connection is impacted by psychological factors. Empathy for pain management has biological roots in hormones like oxytocin and projection structures like the locus coeruleus.

When patients build connections with their healthcare providers, they experience favorable neurobiological responses. The psychosocial factors at play improve the clinical results of traditional treatment. Furthermore, empathy encourages transparent communication between the patient and the medical professional. The latter gets a clearer idea of the challenges and disease progression, which helps them adjust their approach.

Since chronic pain is common in most arthritis patients, medication is generally essential. Ongoing research at Rockefeller University studies fibroblasts that could affect pain-sensitive neurons in hopes of formulating better medicine. However, nonpharmacologic interventions like empathy can make drugs more effective. 

Empathy also encourages the patients to trust healthcare practitioners, leading them to share more accurate details of their daily condition.  The team can adjust the medicine dosage accordingly.

How Healthcare Can Develop Empathy as a Powerful Treatment

Building empathy powerful enough to make an actual change requires a concerted effort by medical professionals. Active listening is of the utmost importance in building trust with patients. For nurses, particularly, practicing intentional and focused listening can help understand the patient’s symptoms more astutely. It can empower them to be more supportive. 

Besides listening, doctors and nurses should also endeavor to attune themselves to the patient’s hidden world. These are the unstated things patients feel hesitant to share. Nonverbal communication can clarify these observations. For example, nurses can learn a lot from eye contact and physical reassurance through holding hands.

In fact, some nursing programs have integrated related modules into their course, such as working to improve patient care outcomes in specific groups. The focus is on bettering the quality of life, even if treating the underlying medical condition in full is not feasible. Interested students can also pursue an online MSN program that focuses on neuropsychopharmacology. It emphasizes mental health and wellness.

The medical community is learning to harness the power of empathetic patient interaction. Practical learning will be more crucial than ever. Cleveland State University stresses experiential learning for healthcare students, including those in virtual classrooms. It helps future practitioners learn to communicate with patients of all ages in a clinical environment.

The Effect of Empathy on Other Problems of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Besides pain, this acute condition also causes mental anguish in patients. The Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction found that people with chronic pain are likelier to experience anxiety and depression. However, they don’t often access mental healthcare. This situation adversely affects a person’s relationships and career, worsening the outlook for their remaining years.

Empathy can prove beneficial in dealing with mental health concerns among those who suffer from chronic pain. It makes patients feel heard and understood. They can discuss their symptoms, like anxiety or mood disorders, in confidence, without the fear of judgment.

Further, a supportive clinical atmosphere also makes patients more welcoming of new interventions. These could be physical therapy and dietary adjustments. For instance, a recent BMC Public Health study recommends that upping dietary retinol can mitigate rheumatoid arthritis in women. It is abundant in foods like meat, eggs, and carotenoid vegetables like carrots. An empathetic practitioner may get better results when encouraging patients to eat healthier.

Additional research is necessary to gauge how empathy reduces chronic pain in arthritis patients. It will entail a closer understanding of the brain’s response to different behaviors, including tone, choice of words, and body language. Considering the growing interest in nonpharmacologic treatment, the future seems promising.

The clinical consequences aside, treating patients with empathy is a core skill in today’s high-stress world. Knowing that one’s healthcare team will exhibit support and respect makes people likelier to seek help. It also inspires confidence and faith that a chronic condition needn’t dampen life as you knew it.

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