Chapter 5 end. How long have opioids or their derivatives been used in medicinal applications for health or pain. Opioids and their derivatives have been used in medicinal applications for health and pain for thousands of years: The use of opium, derived from the opium poppy plant, dates back approximately 8,000 years. Ancient civilizations including the Sumerians, Greeks, Indians, Chinese, Egyptians, and Romans used opium for medicinal purposes. Opium continued to be used as a panacea for various ailments throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. In 1803, Friedrich Sertürner isolated morphine from opium, marking a significant advancement in opioid medicine. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), opioids were widely used to treat wounded soldiers, leading to increased use and addiction. In 1898, Bayer Company introduced heroin as a supposedly less addictive alternative to morphine. Opioid pain medications were primarily used for acute pain and cancer pain until the 1990s. In 1995, OxyContin was approved, leading to a significant increase in opioid prescriptions for chronic non-cancer pain. Opioids continue to be used for pain management, but with increasing awareness of their addictive potential and associated risks. In conclusion, opioids have been used medicinally for at least 8,000 years, with their applications evolving significantly over time, particularly in the last two centuries. How many long-term studies on the impact of opioid use on CRPS patients have been completed to date. Based on the search results provided, there appear to be very few long-term studies specifically examining the impact of opioid use on CRPS patients: A 2023 study examined prescription trends in CRPS patients from 2010 to 2022, finding that 70% of CRPS patients were prescribed opioids during this 12-year period. However, this study did not directly assess the long-term impact of opioid use on patient outcomes. A retrospective study with a median 8-year follow-up of CRPS patients using spinal cord stimulation (SCS) found that none of the 6 patients using strong opioids discontinued their use during a 2-year follow-up period. The mean opioid dose increased non-significantly in both SCS users and those who had SCS explanted. One study mentioned that CRPS patients were prescribed opioids for an average of 3.95 years, compared to 1.3 years for non-CRPS controls. However, this was an observational study and did not evaluate long-term outcomes. These studies provide some insights into long-term opioid use patterns in CRPS patients, but they do not constitute comprehensive long-term studies on the impact of opioid use in this population. The available evidence suggests a lack of well-designed, long-term studies specifically examining the effects of opioid use on CRPS patient outcomes. So after 8000 years of providing relief from suffering, not ONE STUDY has been performed on the long term effects of it's usage on Pain Patients. Not ONE Long Term Study...THEN WHY DOES THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY PRETEND TO KNOW iT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO USING AN OPIOID FOR PAIN RELIEF AND THE RETURN TO QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SUFFERING/DYING PAIN PATIENTS? Not One Long Term Study of Over 6 months that I can Find. How About You Mr. Doctor? DO NO HARM - JUST DO NOTHING FOR PAIN PATIENTS. GOD BLESS ALL THE SUFFERING AND DYING PAIN PATIENTS. AMEN! 8000 YEARS...really?