Abstract
This chapter presents an overview on the significance of chronic pain within the population and presents the basic rationale for using opioid medications as treatment. During the course of the discussion, definitions of chronic pain and associated phenomena are explained and reinforced, as well as exploring the various risk factors, prevalence, and economic burden resulting from chronic pain states. The basic anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the pain pathways are introduced to lay the foundation for understanding the analgesic effects of opioid medications. Concepts including opioid tolerance and addiction are defined and outlined. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the current trends and pitfalls in utilizing opioids, while trying to optimize their role in the treatment for chronic pain states.
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Chinn, S., Gritsenko, K., Manchikanti, L. (2016). Scope of the Pain Problem. In: Staats, P., Silverman, S. (eds) Controlled Substance Management in Chronic Pain. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30964-4_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30964-4_1
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