We’re pleased to announce that Pain Physicians of Wisconsin is now Pro Spine Pain.
We’re pleased to announce that Pain Physicians of Wisconsin is now Pro Spine Pain.
Most cancer pain is caused by the tumor pressing on bones, nerves or other organs in your body. Pain can also be related to your cancer treatment. For example, some chemotherapy drugs can cause numbness and tingling in your hands and feet or a burning sensation at the place where they are injected. Radiotherapy can cause skin redness and irritation.
Cancer pain can be acute or chronic. Acute pain is due to damage caused by an injury and tends to only last a short time. For example, having an operation can cause acute pain. The pain goes away when the wound heals. In the meantime, medication can typically keep it under control.
Chronic pain is pain caused by changes to nerves. Nerve changes may occur due to cancer pressing on nerves or due to chemicals produced by a tumor. It can also be caused by nerve changes due to cancer treatment. The pain continues long after the injury or treatment is over and can range from mild to severe. It can be there all the time and is also called persistent pain. Chronic pain can be difficult to treat, but medication or other pain control methods can successfully control it in about 95 out of every 100 people.
This type of medication works to control cancer pain in most people. The key to controlling cancer pain is to take your medicine on a regular schedule. Do not wait until your pain gets bad. Pain is easier to control when you treat it just after it starts. Be careful when taking nonprescription medicines. Talk with a pain physician before you take these medicines, especially if you have a fever or have had kidney or liver disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, or a stomach ulcer. Prescription medicines may be used alone or with other medicines. Depending on your pain, some of these medicines work better than others.
Nerve blocks are injections containing potent anti-inflammatory agents directed at a particular nerve or nerve group that is intended to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Intrathecal pumps are also referred to as infusion pain pumps or spinal drug delivery systems. In this procedure, a pocket is made under the skin that’s large enough to hold a medicine pump. The pump is usually about one inch thick and three inches wide. A catheter is also inserted, which carries pain medicine from the pump to the intrathecal space around the spinal cord. The implants deliver medicines directly to the spinal cord, where pain signals travel. For this reason, intrathecal drug delivery can provide significant pain control with a fraction of the dose that would be required with oral medication. In addition, the system can cause fewer side effects than oral medications because less medicine is required to control pain.
Opiate pain relievers, such as fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and tramadol. Other medicines that may be used with opiate pain relievers. These medicines may be given to help your pain medicine work better or to treat your symptoms. Or they may be given for certain types of pain. These include: Anticonvulsants, to help control nerve pain like burning and tingling. Antidepressants, to relieve pain and help you sleep. Anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids (for example, prednisone or dexamethasone). Bisphosphonates, such as pamidronate and zoledronic acid, to treat bone pain. Local anesthetics, such as skin creams with capsaicin or lidocaine, to help relieve pain in the skin and surrounding tissues.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a procedure used to reduce pain. An electrical current produced by a radio wave is used to heat up a small area of nerve tissue, thereby decreasing pain signals from that specific area. RFA can be used to help patients with chronic (long-lasting) cancer pain. RFA has proven to be a safe and effective way to treat some forms of pain. It also is generally well-tolerated, with very few associated complications.
