ABSTRACT
The judicious use of medication can be thought of as “first aid” for the management of a chronic intractable pain problem. Many chronic pain patients relate a history of progressive increase of pain and/or pain distribution and a decreased ability to physically function with the passage of time. Chronic intractable pain and its related discomforts and disabilities can present some of the most complex problems that are seen in medicine. The chronic intractable pain patient model is emerging in the medical literature as a complex, ongoing mixture of problems. Many medications for chronic intractable pain patients are given on an as-needed or “prn” dosing schedule. Colchicine dates back to ancient Roman times and has been used with encouraging success in the treatment of patients with acute and chronic disc pain problems in the neck, low back, and leg. Depression is the most common emotional problem in patients with chronic pain syndromes.
