J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1983 Sep;12(3):369-374.

Epidural Morphine Block for Chronic Pain

• Choi CR
• Kim Y
• Hwang JH
• Ahn MS

Abstract

Epidural injection of 2-4mg morphine for 7-14 days were given to 18 patients with severe chronic pain. All cases except 2 arachnoiditis had considerable amelioration of pain, which commenced within 2-3min, reached a peak in 10-20min, and was effective for 6-72 hours. Using sensory evoked potentials(SEP) examination for pre-and post-morphine epidural infusion in 18 pain patients, we found the morphine inhibited the action of spinal pain receptor system. It is suggested that morphine reached the subarachnoid space and produced its effect by direct action on the specific opiate receptors in the substantia gelatinosa of the posterior horn cell of the spinal cord.

Keyword

Chronic pain; Epidural morphine block

MeSH Terms

Arachnoid
Arachnoiditis
Chronic Pain*
Humans
Injections, Epidural
Morphine*
Nociceptors
Posterior Horn Cells
Receptors, Opioid
Spinal Cord
Subarachnoid Space
Substantia Gelatinosa
Morphine
Receptors, Opioid