Should patients with rheumatic diseases take pain medication in order to engage in exercise?

Abstract

Pain is the main symptom in most rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). It has debilitating effects in terms of mobility, physical function, sleep, mood, fatigue, and overall quality of life. This is why pain and its associates are some of the predominant outcomes evaluated regularly in response to pharmaceutical or any other interventions involved in the management of RMDs.