How does opioid medication treat short-term pain?

Pain medication helps control pain so you can sleep, move, and heal. One type of prescription pain medication is opioid medication. (It is also sometimes called "narcotic" medication, but when prescribed by a doctor it is called "opioid.") Opioids are strong medications that affect the way your brain handles pain signals. If you have short-term pain (lasting from a few days to a few weeks) from an illness or injury, your doctor might prescribe opioid medication to help you manage it.