Inflammation has been found to contribute to pain sensitivity in the knees of osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Targeting inflammation early on may be a preventative technique that helps reduce pain in the knee due to osteoarthritis.

Researchers from Boston University found that reducing the inflammation did not reduce pain significantly, which led researcher Tuhina Neogi, M.D., Ph.D., to write, “Perhaps once sensitization or heightened sensitivity has occurred, removal of the inflammatory stimulus may not be sufficient to alter the sensitization.”

The researchers suggest increased sensitization of peripheral or central nociceptive neurons contributes to the pain experienced in knee osteoarthritis. The researchers wrote, “Sensitization leads to heightened pain sensitivity, thereby contributing to a more severe pain experience.”

The researchers studied knee radiographs and MRIs from 1,111 participants. Pressure pain threshold was taken at baseline and again at follow-ups 24 months later in the wrist and patellae.

Twenty-one percent of participants reported frequent knee pain at baseline. Sixty-six percent of participants had synovitis, 66 percent had effusion and 79 percent had BMLs. Those with synovitis had lower pressure pain at baseline and at follow-up had a significant reduction in pressure pain threshold. This indicated that those patients had become sensitized.

Effusion and BMLs were not associated with baseline pressure pain threshold or change in pain pressure threshold at the follow-up.

Researchers suggest that preventing sensitization could be an effective way to prevent knee pain in osteoarthritis from worsening. Targeting such inflammation early could be beneficial in preventing sensitization and reducing pain severity.

The findings were published in Arthritis and Rheumatology.