Understanding Chronic Pain: Why Opioids are Not a Successful Management Strategy

Chronic pain is a complex condition that can be difficult to understand, however improving our knowledge about pain and what helps, can assist us to support people who are living with chronic pain conditions. A couple of years ago, the team from Hunter Integrated Pain Service, University of South Australia, University of Washington and Hunter Medicare Local developed a series of short, easy to digest animated videos to help workers understand pain and why opioids are not considered the best course of action for managing chronic pain conditions. With codeine being rescheduled as a prescription only medication form February 2018, its worth building an understanding of chronic pain, and the latest best practice approaches in pain management.

"Understanding Pain in less than five minutes" explains the differences between acute and chronic pain, the complex nature of chronic pain and provides workers with an overview of successful management strategies.

"Understanding Pain: Brainman stops his opioids" summarises why opioids (like morphine, oxycodone and tramadol) are not recommended in the management of chronic pain.