What is pain?
Pain is an unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling and emotional response related to actual or possible tissue damage. Pain is a hard symptom to understand. Pain is whatever a person says it is, happening whenever he/she says it does.
How do people describe pain?
People describe pain in many ways, sometimes related to where the pain may be coming from. Pain can be described as aching, gnawing and concentrated in one area, or it can be vague and a more generalized aching. Pain can be sharp and intense, tingling or numbing. Pain can also be described as burning. Pain can come on suddenly or gradually. People who have had pain for a period of time have chronic pain; they can also have periods of very intense pain.
What causes pain?
Pain can result because of tissue damage from surgery, pressure on nerves (compression), such as from a tumor. Nerve pain can result from cancer drug damage to nerves in the fingers, hands, toes and feet. Mouth sores can also cause pain. Cancer can grow and press into surrounding tissue and cause pain. Cancer can also spread to other areas of the body and cause new pain.
How do people cope with pain?
Pain is unique to the person experiencing it. Some pain may be a problem to control, but pain can be controlled to allow you to function. Cancer pain is controllable in more than 90% of cases. It’s better to begin a pain management program early, in order to improve your function in daily activities.
Here are some tips that may help you manage your pain:
Use a pain scale of zero (none), 1-3 (mild), 4-6 (moderate) and 7-10 (severe) to rate your pain level.
Take your pain medication around the clock (for example: every 4-6 hours, including during the night).
Try using heat or cold to your area of pain. Wrap your heating blanket or ice pack in a towel to protect your skin.
Use a pain diary to rate your pain (0-10), have set times during the day that you rate your pain (an hour after each dose or when the pain is worse). This can help your doctor or nurse make recommendations for you.
Use pillows to keep pressure off your area of pain.
Try using a journal or diary to keep track of your pain; this may help your doctor or nurse manage your pain too.
Listen to relaxing music, or a funny television program to help distract you.
Make sure to take a laxative and/or stool softener if you’re taking pain medication that can cause constipation. Talk to your doctor or nurse about this.
Try imagining pleasant scenes in your mind (guided imagery).
Try joining a support group, seeing a counselor, or a pain specialist.
Talk to your doctor or nurse about additional things that can be done.
What can family members and friends do to help me with my pain?
Ask family members and friends to help position you so you can be more comfortable.
Ask family members and friends to call your doctor if your pain medication is not helping to decrease your pain, or if your pain level is above 5.
Ask them to remind you to take your pain medication as prescribed and stay on an even schedule, even through the night.
Ask someone in your family to give you a gentle backrub with warmed lotion.
How can I talk with my family members and friends about my pain?
Try telling where your pain is, and how severe your pain is on a 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain you can imagine) scale. If the pain is a five or above, contact your doctor or nurse.
Tell your family members and friends the type of words you would use to describe your pain.
Tell your family members and friends how many hours per day you have the pain you describe.
Tell your family members and friends how your pain is affecting your emotions.
Ask family members and friends for suggestions to help manage your pain.
What should I report to my doctor or nurse?
Pain not relieved by current medication, and that you report as a 5 or higher on a 0 to 10 scale.
How many hours per day you have pain, and how long the pain lasts after taking something for relief.
Pain that is new or different from your last doctor’s visit.
Pain that accompanies a cough or fever greater than 100.4º F for more than 24 hours.
Unbearable side effects to pain medication (example: uncontrolled constipation).
Pain along with fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal bloating.
Pain that is worsening despite using a pain medication schedule (taking pain medication throughout the day and night).
Where your pain is located.
Where can I get more information?
Call the American Cancer Society at: 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit on the internet at:
http://www.cancer.org
Click on Patients, Family & Friends, then Coping with Treatment.
Contact a support group through your local ACS office or cancer center.
Visit the University of Pennsylvania Oncolink on the internet at:
http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu
Click on Coping with Cancer.
Visit the National coalition for cancer survivorship: essential care. (2003) at:
http://www.canceradvocacy.org
Click on Essential Care.
Call the National Cancer Institute at: 1-800-4-CANCER or visit on the internet at:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo
Visit the Family Care Research Program on the internet at:
http://www.cancercare.msu.edu
Visit
http://www.cancersymtoms.org
Click on Pain.
References:
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network at:
http://www.nccn.org
Paice, J. (2003). Pain. In C.H. Yarbro, M.H. Frogge, & M. Goodman (Eds.), Cancer symptom management, 3rd Ed. (pp. 77-96). Boston: Jones and Bartlett.
American Pain Society at:
http://www.ampainsoc.org
