Why cant I just take stronger (narcotic) pain medication?
Narcotic medications may be helpful for short-term pain relief such as after a surgery or a procedure, but they are not effective in treating long-term pain. Through anti-inflammatories, exercise and proper rest, most patients can limit their pain. Narcotic pain medication is addictive and patients become tolerant to the medication requiring greater dosages over time. In addition, narcotics can impede the body’s ability to make its own pain medicine (endorphins).
