Traditionally, pain clinics in the 1960s and 1970s had limited treatment options, with morphine and cortisone injections forming the backbone of care. This approach evolved into a rapid increase in opioid use throughout the 1990s and 2000s, which over time revealed serious challenges. Long-term opioid use has been linked to issues such as dependence, tolerance, respiratory depression, constipation, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, and cognitive side effects, prompting a major shift in how pain is managed today. As a result, there is growing emphasis on alternatives to traditional opioids, including non-medication approaches and newer analgesic agents that aim to provide effective pain relief without the risks associated with stronger opioid treatments.
Collectively, this reflects a fundamental shift toward safer, more holistic, and individualised approaches to pain management.
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