RESEARCH - Chronic opioid therapy for nonmalignant pain: the patient's perspective

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Pain Manag Nurs. 2009 Sep;10(3):165-72.

Chronic opioid therapy for nonmalignant pain: the patient's

perspective. Part I--life before and after opioid therapy.

Vallerand A, Nowak L.

Wayne State University College of Nursing, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.

Prescription of opioid analgesics for managing chronic nonmalignant

pain is a highly debated treatment modality. Although opioid therapy

has been shown to decrease pain intensity, improve quality of life,

and enhance functioning for adults with pain, opioids are rarely used

as a long-term treatment option.

Limited qualitative research exists that reflects patients'

perspectives regarding life with chronic nonmalignant pain. This paper

reports the results of a phenomenologic study that investigated the

experience of 22 adults receiving opioid therapy for chronic

nonmalignant pain.

Themes that emerged regarding life before and after treatment with

opioid therapy are discussed in part 1 of this two-part series. Life

before treatment with opioids was characterized by desperation and

inability to function. Life after treatment with opioids was

characterized by balancing, living a secret life, fear of losing the

pain management regimen, and thankfulness for a life regained.

Overall, the data reflected the fact that these individuals trade the

incapacitation of chronic pain for secrecy to regain their life and

improve their functional capacity and ability to perform self-care.

Awareness of the life-enhancing benefits of opioid therapy in adults

with chronic nonmalignant pain will enable clinicians to intervene

appropriately and to act as advocates on behalf of adults using

chronic opioid therapy.

PMID: 19706354

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19706354

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