Acute pain and opioid seeking behaviour.
BACKGROUND
Acute pain is a common presentation associated with opioid seeking behaviour.


OBJECTIVE
This case study provides a practical approach for general practitioners seeing patients with acute pain whom they suspect of seeking opioids because of dependence.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute pain commonly presents as an emergency appointment 'squeezed in' between booked appointments. General practitioners have to make a rapid assessment of the possible underlying causes, relieve pain, and establish a plan for further investigation and management. Furthermore, some opioid dependent people can and do effectively feign acute pain in order to obtain opioid medication.
Sim
Moira G
MG
Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. m.sim@ecu.edu.au
Hulse
Gary K
GK
Khong
Eric
E
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid