A new study shows just how difficult it is to quantify whether opioids have a beneficial effect in the long-term treatment of pain patients. The analysis of patient outcomes in a Canadian neuropathic pain database indicated that people on higher doses of opioids, or using opioids on an ongoing basis, do not show significant improvements in disability and better physical functioning (Pain Med 2015;16:1361-1368).
The authors noted in the discussion section of their paper that there are many