Opioids should not be prescribed for chronic pain after spinal cord injury

Spinal Cord Ser Cases. 2018 Jul 27:4:66. doi: 10.1038/s41394-018-0095-2. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Most people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have chronic pain and effective treatments have not been identified. Within the first two decades of the 21st century, opioids have been commonly prescribed in an attempt to manage pain after SCI, however, the risks and absence of benefit of opioids have become more apparent as opioid crises have developed around the world. This perspective is an argument for why opioids should no longer be prescribed to treat chronic pain after SCI.

Publication types

  • Review