Opioids (narcotics) are common pain medicines. They can help if you have bad short-term pain —like pain after surgery for a broken bone. They can also help you manage pain if you have an illness like cancer. But opioids are strong drugs. And usually they are not the best way to treat long-term pain, such as arthritis, low back pain, or frequent headaches. This kind of pain is called “chronic” pain. Before getting opioids for these problems, you should discuss other choices with your doctor.
