Patient Information Resources


Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics
27650 Ferry Road
Suite 100
Warrenville, IL 60555
Ph: 630.225.2663






Ankle
Child Orthopedics
Elbow
Foot
Fractures
General
Hand
Hip
Knee
Pain Management
Shoulder
Spine - Cervical
Spine - General
Spine - Lumbar
Spine - Thoracic
Wrist

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I know that some drugs are stronger than others, but why does something like morphine help my pain but the non-addicting stuff doesn't?

Although we can't tell what non-addicting medications you have been prescribed, often pain relievers are either medications like acetameniphen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or Aspirin. These are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Medications like morphine fall into the opioid or narcotic category, which can be addictive.

NSAIDs act on pain by reducing swelling at the site of the pain so the pain will be relieved. Opioids, on the other hand, interrupt how your brain receives the pain signals. If the medication is working, your brain will not feel the pain signals as they are sent from the injury to the brain.


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