New Research Suggests Painkillers Might Make Chronic Pain Worse
Opioid use for the management of pain has drastically increased over the last few years, with often little concern being paid for any potential consequences regarding the primary pain condition of the patient. And fatal overdoses have quadrupled, rising to 33,000 deaths in 2015, which is up from about 8,200 deaths in 1999.
Last year, researchers at the University of Colorado-Boulder sought to investigate the harmful effects of opioids and they found that painkillers might actually lengthen chronic pain and ultimately make it worse.
Their study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers discovered that opioid use would increase chronic pain in rats and if the same results ring true for people, then that means that the “treatment” is worsening the condition that it has been prescribed to try and remedy.
The researchers involved in the study discovered that morphine when prescribed after nerve injury, would double the duration of neuropathic pain.
And this was only after 5 days of the morphine being prescribed, but the chronic pain persisted as a result for many months afterward. Their research confirms the notion that even short-term usage of opioids can have long-term damaging effects.
This study helps us to better understand the opioid epidemic that's going on in many countries right now. And if opioids like morphine, methadone, oxycodone, and others, are contributing to making the problem worse then what is the point in taking them?
This isn't the first study that has sought to look into this issue, previous research in this area has also reaffirmed that belief that opioids can lengthen and worsen pain. Perhaps this is why many people might now be looking to cannabis in order to get the remedy they seek.
It's been suggested by medical experts, legal experts, and others, that cannabis might help to end the opioid epidemic, based on the stats showcasing a decrease in overdoses from painkillers in states that have permitted medical cannabis. And opioid addiction/abuse is a problem that leads to tens of billions in medical costs every single year. And for the millions of Americans who are estimated to be currently struggling with an opioid addiction, it might come as good news that they can turn to a natural plant for help.
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The information that is posted above is not intended or implied to ever be used as any substitute for professional medical advice, or diagnosis or treatment. The above is posted for informational purposes only.
Sources:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2016/05/30/prescription-pain-killers-may-worsen-and-lengthen-chronic-pain/#37616ef620fe
http://www.pnas.org/content/113/24/E3441.abstract
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/11/could-pot-help-solve-us-opioid-epidemic
http://time.com/4419003/can-medical-marijuana-help-end-the-opioid-epidemic/
http://www.drugfree.org/news-service/opioid-addiction-treated-medical-marijuana-massachusetts/
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2017/01/15/documentary-on-convicted-doc-highlights-providers-role-in-opioid-epidemic.html
I am being slowly weaned of Codiene, its going to take 2 years . Wish we in the UK could try cannabis
i wish you could too!
I take so many painkillers wish there was something easier
Upvoted and resteemed!!
Nice post! Upvoted! :)
Similar thing is true of NSAIDS, such as ibuprofen. Over use causes a feedback that increases the cause of the inflammation and pain.
Nice post. Very interesting and informative.
However, there is always a degree of trade off in these matters. As someone who has use opiate derivatives for 12 years, I can speak for the benefit they bring. They do need care in their management, and an understanding of their potential drawbacks, but they are effective.
Often the problem is not the drug, but the inability of the patient to accept that he or she must adapt to a lifestyle that puts less physical stress on the body. Pain is a warning sign, that far too many people try to hide from their view behind a barrier of pain.
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cannabis can be said to be far more effective and doesn't possess the long-term dangers that opioids do. The fact remains that opioids are toxic to the liver. Doesn't matter if you take them as prescribed or if you abuse them, they are still toxic.
The state in which I live, Kentucky, is plagued with addiction and overdoses because of opioids. This problem lies true across most of the rolling hills and mountains of Appalachia where the world's best cannabis is cultivated. The problem is the cultivation of cannabis is illegal . Our people sit addicted, with no hope, living in poverty while they could be cultivating and harvesting a crop that is known to manage pain and many other conditions. Our government has made a gift from God illegal. I am thankful that CBD oil is currently legal in all 50 states.
Awesome post @doitvoluntarily.
Another drawback to opioid use (a topic I can speak of with some degree of expertise) is that it masks the pain allowing mobility that in the long run exacerbates the original condition. I broke my back in 1985 and in the 90's began needing outside help. I used cannabis for years with meager results. I'm currently on an opioid regimen without which I'm unable to move. I hate it and have tried every alternative that's come my way, but nothing has the effectiveness of opioids. Ultram made me suicidal the depression was so severe. RA remedies caused more side-effects than benefits.
Thanks, i always think painkillers should be avoided if possible
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As for many things (could it be chocolate or painkiller), too much of a something cannot work on the long term. I am thus not too surprized, today where someone who goes to the doctor does not generally get out of it without a prescription (the reason being not necessarily the doctor, but sometimes the patient).