Opioid Use for Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract

For the small group of workers with compensable back injuries who receive opioids longer-term (111/1843, 6%), opioid doses increase substantially and only a minority shows clinically important improvement in pain and function. The amount of prescribed opioid received early after injury strongly predicts long-term use. More research is needed to understand clinical decisions to continue or increase opioid therapy after back injury.