Pain management

Pain makes a cancer patient’s life dreadful. It may result in loss of appetite, depression, bad temper and abandonment from social interaction, anger, insomnia (sleeplessness) and a failure to cope. It may destroy relationships and the will to live.  Fortunately, pain can almost always be controlled. In order to manage pain, caregivers must understand the cause and nature of the pain and suitable treatment for it. Commitment of caregivers is a vital factor in pain management.

  One option to alleviate pain is the use of pain medications. Mild pain is usually treated with nonnarcotic medications like aspirin, acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A combination of NSAIDs and weak narcotics can be used to treat moderate pain. To treat severe pain, strong opioids such as morphine, Demerol, Dilaudid, fentanyl, etc. are used in combination with NSAIDs. Pain medications can be given in various ways. They come in a variety of forms including oral, transdermic, rectal, intramuscular and intravenous. Oral medications are desirable as it is suitable for long-term use and doesn’t necessitate hospitalization or the service of a second person.   Those who are using pain medications should be aware of the potential side effects of the drugs. The toleration to drugs is different for each patient.   Taking care of the emotional and psychological aspects of the pain is also vital. Counseling is useful to find sources of emotional support, reduce the feeling of being alone and ease anxieties and fears associated with the pain. Some other pain-relieving methods are: relaxation exercises, massage, transcutaneous nerve stimulation and listening to pleasing music.     Back