Why do narcotics not work for chronic pain?

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I’ve been told before that opiates aren’t useful for chronic pain, but I always assumed that was due to the risk of addiction. I had major surgery recently and was on morphine in the hospital and Vicodin after leaving. I hardly experienced any pain from the surgical site while on the medications, but my chronic shoulder pain seemed to be unaffected. Can anyone explain why this would be the case?

In: Biology

9 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Been on opiates for 12 years now due to severe DDD in lower back. They definitely do work long term. And I have decreased the level with other medications and devices like a spinal cord stimulator. I have weaned myself off of the opiates a couple of times in those 12 years, but the pain always comes back. I used to be on 50 mg of morphine sulfate, now I only need 15.

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