Cancer can cause nerve, bone, and organ pain, and even the treatments you need might cause significant discomfort. If you're experiencing cancer pain, the team at Wisconsin Spine and Pain can help. At their locations in Waukesha, West Bend, Sheboygan, Green Bay, and Greenfield, Wisconsin, the board-certified pain management specialists use advanced therapies to help you manage your cancer pain. To benefit from their experience helping cancer patients, call Wisconsin Spine and Pain or book an appointment online today.
Cancer pain is typically due to the tumor pressing on your nerves, bones, or organs. You might also be experiencing general aches and pains that aren't related to your cancer.
Sometimes the pain results from your cancer treatment. For example, certain chemotherapy drugs can cause tingling and numbness in your hands and feet or burning sensations at the injection site. Radiation therapy can cause skin irritation and redness.
Acute pain may result from surgery to treat your cancer. This form of pain should go away as your wound heals.
Chronic cancer pain can develop from nerve compression, nerve changes from your cancer treatment, or the chemicals produced by your tumor. It continues long after your treatment is over and can sometimes be severe.
Pain from your cancer depends on factors such as:
Poor quality sleep and emotions like fear, anxiety, and depression can also affect how you feel pain.
If you have cancer pain, it's essential to let your physician at Wisconsin Spine and Pain know straight away. Trying to put up with the pain can lead to nerve changes that might make pain control more difficult in the future.
Painkilling drugs usually work well in controlling cancer pain, providing you take your medications on a regular schedule. Cancer pain is easier to manage if you begin treatment just after it starts, so don't wait until it gets worse before seeking help.
Prescription medicines that can help with cancer pain include opioid pain relievers like morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, and tramadol. Other drugs such as anticonvulsants and bisphosphonates may also benefit.
The team at Wisconsin Spine and Pain uses several methods to treat cancer pain, including:
Nerve blocks are injections containing anti-inflammatory agents that act on a specific nerve or nerve group to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Radiofrequency ablation heats an area of nerve tissue using radio wave energy. The heat destroys the nerves, so they can't send pain messages to your brain.
Intrathecal pain pumps are implants that deliver medicines directly to your spinal cord. They're more effective than oral medication for severe pain because the drug goes straight to the source of the pain signals.
Cancer is one of the most challenging diagnoses to live with, and if you're in pain, it makes it considerably more difficult. Get relief from your cancer pain by calling Wisconsin Spine and Pain or booking an appointment online today.
