[Non-oncologic chronic pain relief with opioids]. / Alívio da dor crônica não neoplásica com opiáceos.

Opioids for non cancer pain control are controversial. The evaluation of the pain relief, changes in quality of life and complications due to long term infusion of opioids in the lumbar subarachnoid space in 11 patients with non cancer pain were the goals of this study. Patients were previously treated with drugs and surgical procedures, without significant pain relief. Patients were asked to compare pain characteristics and daily life activities before and after this treatment. The long term spinal opioids through implantable pumps for non-oncologic pain produced pain relief but did not improve the quality of life in the majority of the cases.

[Intrathecal opioids in chronic non-malignant pain: relief and life quality]. / Opiáceo intratecal na dor crônica não neoplásica. Alívio e qualidade de vida.

The use of opioids for treatment of non-malignant pain is controversial. The evaluation of pain relief and of the quality of life of 11 severely incapacitated chronic non-cancer pain patients treated with long term intrathecal infusion of opioids trought implantable pumps was performed. The mean duration of pain complaints was 5.3 years. The mean pain intensity was 8.6. In 7 patients, pain episodes lasted at least 6 hours daily. The mean duration of the therapy was 19.6 months. After the treatment the mean pain score became 3.9. In only 1 patient, the duration of pain episodes was still longer than 6 hours. Quality of life improved in 36.36% of the cases. The long term spinal opioids through implantable pumps for non-malignant pains results in pain relief but not necessarily improves the quality of life.