The experience of pain is different for everyone, but it is always tricky to handle. A certain level of pain goes hand-in-hand with cancer (and most likely with other diseases), and the greater the severity of this disease, the more intense the suffering will be. Cancer can affect various parts of the body so that the patients will experience a variety of painful sensations, and in most cases, you cannot eliminate this pain. At the same time, there are several different ways to alleviate pain in cancer patients. This article will attempt to explain how you can deal with cancer pain with the help of an Austin cancer pain specialist.
Table of Contents
1. Medication
Nowadays, a vast selection of various medications will help you cope with cancer pain. Those suffering from this disease should be familiar with the names of drugs available for treating their condition, and they should always have some analgesics at hand. All types of opioids can reduce cancer pain, but they also cause several side effects. You can also use NSAIDs to reduce the level of pain effectively, but you should know that they will not eliminate it, and although they don’t cause as many side effects as opioids do, their application might be limited.
2. Nerve Blocks
If the pain is caused by a tumor that has infiltrated nerve tissue, then there is a chance to significantly reduce the discomfort using special nerve blocks performed by your Austin cancer pain specialist. An injection will be administered during this procedure to numb a specific part of the body and stop transmitting painful stimuli from affected areas to brain centers (the spinal cord). You can repeat this procedure several times to achieve the desired effect.
3. Radiofrequency Ablation
You can use this method to destroy cancer cells that are responsible for your discomfort. When the tumor is diagnosed, an Austin pain doctor will determine if it is possible to utilize this type of treatment. In some cases, your immune system might be able to destroy these cells on its own, but in other, more severe cases, it becomes necessary to apply more drastic measures. During radiofrequency ablation, a probe is placed next to the affected area. It emits high-frequency impulses that heat tissue enough so that the resulting thermal damage kills cancer cells.
4. Intrathecal Injections
The spinal cord is a significant part of the central nervous system that allows pain transmission from the periphery to the brain. In some cases, it might be possible to use medications and reduce the intensity of discomfort by injecting them directly into this area (intrathecal injections). This type of medication frequently contains opioids and anticonvulsants so that it can help in cases of severe pain.
In summary, it is essential to know that there are many different ways to cope with cancer pain. Depending on your condition and the severity of discomfort, you will need a specific type of treatment. It is worth consulting an Austin pain specialist about this issue as soon as possible.
