Types of pain medicines based on how often they are given
Short acting drugs
- Last 2-6 hours depending on drug (such as short acting morphine)
- Long acting drugs
- Last 12 to 24 hours or longer (such as long acting morphine which lasts about 12 hours. There is a new oral drug that works for 24 hours and a fentanyl patch works for up to 72 hours)
- Breakthrough medicines (given when pain medicine stops easing pain even though the next dose is not scheduled for several hours)
- You will usually take a small dose of a short acting drug in between other doses usually of a longer acting drug.
- Non-Drug Methods to Manage Pain
Heat:
- Decreases pain, swelling, joint stiffness
- Increases healing
- Includes: baths, hot water bottles, warm moist towels
- Use caution with heat:
- Baths should not be not over 101 degrees
- Heating pads should be on low with cover on the pad to avoid burning the skin;
- do NOT lie on the heating pad
- Do NOT use heat on skin that has recently had radiation
Cold:
- Decreases swelling
- Includes: crushed ice, cold packs, cold wet cloths, gel packs
- Use cold with caution:
- Never put ice directly on skin; place ice bag in towel, pillowcase
- Leave on for no more than 15 minutes at a time
- Do not use on skin that has recently had radiation
Relaxation/Imagery:
- Includes a wide range of activities designed to help you relax and decrease stress, pain and anxiety
- Decreases muscle tension, aches, pains and fatigue
- Includes: muscle relaxation, meditation, visualization, and deep breathing
- Relaxation is considered to be very safe with no to very few side effects
Traditional Healing:
- Talking and working with a Traditional Indian healer
- Spiritual ceremonies to help you and your family with your cancer pain
- Praying together to help relieve your pain
- Addressing spiritual, mental, emotional pains (not just physical)
- Preparing traditional teas, juices, poultices to help relieve your pain
Massage/Pressure:
- Involves the rubbing and kneading of the bodys muscle and soft tissue
- Massage can be shallow and light or firm and deep
- Oils may be used on the skin to prevent irritation
- Massage may decrease stress, anxiety, depression and pain
Acupuncture:
- Involves the use of very fine (thin) needles placed into the body over strategic points to alter body function (such as the feeling of pain)
- Based on ancient Chinese practice that is well accepted by both western providers and traditional Indian healers
- Most people dont feel uncomfortable when the needles are placed
- A licensed acupuncturist should be used
Movement:
- Moving to another position will sometimes lessen the pain
- Sometimes just getting up, walking or other types of movement will leesen the pain
Hypnosis (a form of relaxation):
- A trained hypnotherapist guides the patient into a state of hypnosis with a soothing voice and calming images
- While under hypnosis goals such as being able to control ones pain are suggested
- Helps to train the brain to not recognize the pain or to interpret it as something less uncomfortable
Herbal remedies (teas, herbs):
- Traditional herbs and teas may be helpful in decreasing pain
- Be sure to tell your provider if you are using any traditional teas or herbs
Prayer:
- Suggestion that praying or being prayed for can speed recovery and help with healing
- Prayer may be silent or spoken out loud and can be done alone, in a small group (family) or with a larger group (community, tribe)
Creative Arts:
- Includes such activities as drawing, painting, writing poetry, making music
- These activities can help you express how you are feeling
- May decrease pain by lessening stress and anxiety and providing distraction from the pain feelings
Lifestyle changes:
- Do not do activities that cause pain
- Learn good body mechanics how to move, sit, lift
- Increase rest/relaxation prior to activities
- As possible, do muscle strengthening exercises so as not to strain muscles
- Take pain medicines as ordered
- Let others help you
Other methods/procedures to manage pain
- Cancer treatment
- Radiation or chemotherapy to decrease size of cancer and remove cause of pain
- Nerve blocks
- A specially trained doctor will use a needle to place medicine near a nerve to prevent the sensation of pain
Stopping your pain medicine
- Always talk with your provider before you stop taking your pain medicine
- Never stop your pain medicine suddenly
- Always decrease your pain medicines very gradually (your provider should tell you how to do this)
- If you stop your pain medicines slowly, withdrawal symptoms will not be felt or will be very mild (should you have symptoms, tell your provider immediately)
Important points
- Back pain can be a symptom of the cancer pressing on your spinal cord be sure to tell your provider
- Pain medicines need to be kept out of the reach of children
- Never share your pain medicines with others
- Take your pain medicines as ordered
- Why it is important to Measure Your Pain
You need to use a system that will help your provider know how you feel about your pain and how it affects you
- Tells your provider what your pain is like (sharp, feels like pins and needles)
- Lets the provider know how often it occurs during the day and if any activity caused it (like cleaning salmon which is very hard work
- Helps your provider know what you think is an okay level of pain relief (although my arm and chest area are throbbing, I can work through it)
- Lets your provider know how well the pain relief measures you are using are working (I feel better within fifteen minutes of taking the medication)