The truth about pain management: the difference between a pain patient and an addicted patient

Abstract

Pain is undertreated in all parts of the world. Multiple barriers exist that prevent valid treatment of the pain patient. This paper will provide definitions of pain, addiction, physical dependence, tolerance, and pseudoaddiction that health professionals need to understand in order to treat pain. It will address how to differentiate between a pain patient and an addict when evaluating the patient for treatment. The physiological benefits of using long- versus short-acting opioids will be presented. With proper education of the medical community, patients should receive humane and compassionate treatment of their chronic pain syndromes.