Who treats pain
This page tells you about who treats cancer pain - many people can help you. There is information about
You are probably the most important person in making sure that your pain is kept under control. Let someone know if you have pain. Don't leave it too long and think that you can handle it by yourself. If pain is not managed quickly, it can become very difficult to control. You will feel stressed if you are in pain. It will be harder for you to deal with relationships, any treatment you may be having and everyday life. Try to be honest with yourself and tell people how much pain you have. Then they can help you to contol the pain.
It may take a few hours or a few days for your doctors and nurses to get your pain completely under control. This will depend on
- The type of treatment they use
- How long you have had the pain
- How bad it is
- What is causing it
To help you make informed decisions about pain relief, it is important that you understand the medical terms used by your cancer doctor and specialist nurses. Don't be afraid to ask questions and get them to explain things to you in simple terms. For example, you may hear the term analgesia, which simply means painkilling drugs. Sometimes doctors and nurses forget that the words they use every day are not familiar to everyone. So let them know if you don't understand what they mean. There is a list of questions to ask your doctor at the end of this section of CancerHelp UK.
Some doctors spend all their time treating pain and symptoms. They are called palliative care doctors. Many hospitals now have dedicated pain clinics. These clinics are not just for people with cancer. The doctors who work there are experts in treating all types of pain. If you are having treatment in a hospice or at home, the specialist team helping to manage your pain may be called a symptom control team or a palliative care team.
Anaesthetists are highly skilled in treating pain. As well as deciding which drugs to give you to keep your pain under control after your operation, they also help to treat other types of pain, such as cancer pain. They may be one of the key people helping to control your pain. Anaesthetists often run pain clinics and some may use complementary therapies such as acupuncture as well as conventional treatments, such as painkillers or nerve blocks.
Specialist nurses can help you and are skilled in treating cancer pain. They may be called palliative care nurses or symptom control nurses. Palliative treatment means treatment that is designed to relieve symptoms rather than cure. But it can be used at any stage of illness if you have troubling symptoms, such as pain or sickness. Some hospitals have pain clinics run by Nurse Consultants who specialise in pain control.
Pharmacists check the safety of types, doses and combinations of drugs. They will make sure that you can take your painkillers safely with any other medicines you take.
Occupational therapists can help you find ways to manage everyday life. Some things may be more difficult when you have pain - eating, cooking or bathing. You can have a handrail put in beside your bath or shower, for example. This helps you to get in and out of the bath or shower more easily and may prevent strain on joints and muscles that could make your pain worse.
They may recommend blocks to raise your armchair so that you can get up more easily. They can arrange home aids, such as commodes if your home circumstances make it difficult for you to get to the toilet.
Some physiotherapists are trained to care for people with cancer. They can help a great deal with careful exercises to make your joints and muscles more comfortable, breathing techniques to help you relax, and massage to control your pain.
It is quite common for psychologists and counsellors to work in pain teams, particularly at chronic pain clinics. They cannot help to get rid of the pain physically. But they can help people with constant pain to live with it and to find ways of blocking it out.
Other people who may be important in helping to control your pain include your family and friends, your GP, your district nurse, a psychiatrist or psychologist, social worker and religious leaders. There is more information about how these people can help you in support when you have pain.
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