The role of strong opioids in the treatment of the chronic musculoskeletal pain
Cwiek, R.; Gasik, R.; Lisowska, B.
Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski Organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego 24(144): 552-555
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1426-9686 PMID: 18702342 Document Number: 619879
This article concentrates on recent evidence about opioid analgesics for persistent musculoskeletal pain. Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a major health problem for which opioids provide one treatment option. Pain is an experience that affects all aspects of a patient's life and effective pain management with strong opioids may help the patient to focus on the positive aspects of life, decreasing the focus on pain. This therapy should be reserved for patients who fail to respond to other lower-risk options and only after proper consideration is given to the long-term consequences of strong opioid use according to the WHO three-step ladder. Several reviews and our experience have shown that opioids are typically reserved for moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain that cannot be relieved by other drugs. In this article are presented the strong opioid drugs, routes of administration, dosage guidelines and potential adverse effects. The management of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain is a common clinical challenge.