Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Chronic pain: an addiction.

J M Portnow

    Medical Hypotheses
    |September 1, 1984
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Chronic pain may be an addiction to the body's natural opioids, persisting even after injury healing. This internal state prevents withdrawal from endogenous pain relievers like endorphins.

    Related Experiment Videos

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Medically induced drug addiction.

    The International journal of the addictions·1985
    Same author

    Complications of therapy.

    Rehabilitation literature·1983
    Same author

    Oral methadone for relief of chronic pain from cancer.

    The New England journal of medicine·1982
    Same journal

    Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide-Induced Central Sensitization: A Hypothesis for Long COVID Symptoms.

    Medical hypotheses·2026
    Same journal

    Subclinical mastitis during lactation: a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer?

    Medical hypotheses·2025
    Same journal

    The Role of Hemispheric Sensory Shifts: Impacts on Stretch Reflex and Motor Plasticity Post-Stroke.

    Medical hypotheses·2025
    Same journal

    Neuron-Targeted Exosome Therapy: A Novel Approach for Treating Cardiogenic Dementia via RyR2 Inhibition.

    Medical hypotheses·2025
    Same journal

    How the Somatosensory System Adapts to the Motor Change in Stroke: A Hemispheric Shift?

    Medical hypotheses·2024
    Same journal

    Unstable Plaque is a Treatable Cause of Cognitive Decline.

    Medical hypotheses·2024
    See all related articles

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Pain Management
    • Addiction Research

    Background:

    • Chronic pain differs from persistent pain.
    • A novel hypothesis suggests chronic pain is linked to endogenous opioid system addiction.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To differentiate chronic pain from persistent pain.
    • To propose a new model for understanding chronic pain mechanisms.

    Main Methods:

    • Conceptual analysis of pain states.
    • Review of endogenous opioid system function in pain.

    Main Results:

    • Chronic pain may represent a state of addiction to endogenous opioids.
    • This addiction can maintain pain even after lesion removal.

    Conclusions:

    • Chronic pain involves a potential addiction to the endogenous opioid system.
    • This internal state prevents withdrawal syndromes associated with endorphins and enkephalins.