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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.

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    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.