Navigating Life with Chronic Pain by Robert A Lavin MD MS

Author:Robert A Lavin MD, MS
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2019-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Why Do Opioids Work for Pain?

Opioids are a group of chemicals that bind to opioid receptors, which are special places where opioids attach on the surface of nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord. The binding of opioids to these nerve cell opioid receptors reduces pain, and some people experience increased pleasure as well. These opioid receptors exist because our bodies produce natural substances that are chemically similar to opioids. These natural opioids are our bodies’ natural pain relievers, called endorphins and enkephalins. Like chemically manufactured opioids, these natural opioids attach to opioid receptors on nerve cells where they can reduce pain and increase pleasure. Natural opioids help to control pain in our normal daily lives from various minor traumas like scraping your knee or bruising your elbow. Our bodies only produce small amounts of natural opioids, so overdoses can occur with manufactured opioids if they are taken in much larger amounts than our bodies are used to.

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