08-10-2017, 07:38 PM
(08-10-2017, 03:04 PM)BmorePat87 Wrote: I have chronic shoulder/neck pain, enough where a spinal surgeon said he'd operate on me... if I was older. He gave me a prescription and said, "even though this is a mechanical issue, I'm gonna try a chemical solution". I stopped taking it because I didn't want to be dependent on it. It can't be a long term solution.
If you already understand the difference between physical dependence and addiction bear with me.
Opioids will cause physical dependence if you take them regularly for long enough. Meaning if you aren't weaned off of them you will have withdrawal.
Physical dependence is different than addiction. Addiction involves misuse and/or abuse. Addicts are not using the medication for its intended therapeutic purpose. They are actively seeking the medication in inappropriate ways.
A person who has chronic back pain and is treated appropriately with opioids to manage their pain will eventually become physically dependent on opioids, but that doesn't mean they are an addict. If they begin to lie for more pain medication or they are taking it to "get high" then they have crossed the line from normal physical dependence to addiction.
