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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Author Spotlight: Quantifying Pain Experience – An Illustrative Approach Using the Pain Body Diagram
Published on: July 7, 2023
Relationship Between Opioid Use and Pain Severity Ratings in Workers With Low Back Pain
Melissa Cheng1, Matthew S Thiese, Eric M Wood
1Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational & Environment Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (Drs Cheng, Thiese, Wood, Merryweather, Hegmann); Occupational Science & Technology Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Dr Kapellusch); School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, Texas (Dr Foster).
Objective:
The primary goal of this cross-sectional analysis was to determine the relationships between self-reported low back pain (LBP) ratings and use of opioid medications.
Methods:
At baseline, subjects completed a computerized questionnaire. Structured interviews were conducted by residents or certified therapists under the direction of board-certified physicians.
Results:
There was a statistically significant nonlinear relationship between lifetime prevalence of worst LBP rating (0 to 10) and lifetime prevalence of opioid use. Those with a low pain rating for worst lifetime LBP and those with high LBP ratings were significantly more likely to have been prescribed opioids. Surprisingly, those with moderate pain ratings were the least likely to have used opioids.
Conclusion:
This study found a higher use of opioids between workers with low and high severe pain rating then those with moderate pain. We also found an increase of opioid use for severe pain.
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