They consider talking about it a futile endeavor, since it will not bring about relief of their pain. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness, despair, and under-prescribing by physicians. No one likes to think that they are weak or a nuisance. However, it is vitally important that you describe your pain, and how it is affecting your life, to your physician. Only then can you begin to receive adequate treatment.
Addiction has a complex psychological component to it.
This phenomenon may happen when a patient is underprescribed pain medication, is then helped temporarily by the medication, and thus begins to seek out refills, multiple prescribers, etc. This is relief-seeking behavior, not addictive behavior. In reality, opioid abuse is rare in pain patients. Many patients also worry about tolerance and excessive sedation from opioids. Tolerance with opioid analgesics is not that common.