Common Myths Associated with Cancer Pain
What you think causes cancer discomfort could be harmful. On average, around one-third of persons with cancer report discomfort. A cancer pain specialist can alleviate their discomfort with little effort for nine out of ten patients. Yet, many people with cancer don’t get the treatment they need because they have false beliefs about cancer pain. Read on to learn about Austin cancer pain and dispel popular misconceptions.
Pain is just a physical problem
Anxiety, stress, and depression often accompany the pain. Individuals suffering from these psychological repercussions of cancer treatment may also encounter ongoing problems with their joints, back, or stomach. Hence, pain is not just a medical problem.
Mood swings and heightened anxiety are possible side effects of chronic pain that prevent you from engaging in pleasurable activities and disrupt sleep. If you are in pain or having mental health issues, you must communicate this to your care team so that they can develop an appropriate treatment plan. A social worker or therapist can help you figure out how to handle things like money worries, family troubles, and transportation difficulties.
Every person with cancer will experience excruciating pain
There is a common misconception that someone diagnosed with cancer will be in constant, excruciating agony. Fortunately, that is not the case. Some people with terminal cancer don’t experience any discomfort. Indeed, only about a quarter of individuals with advanced malignancies have severe cancer pain, and even fewer experience extremely severe cancer pain. One-fourth have severe pain, one-fourth moderate discomfort, and one-fourth have no pain.
While dealing with cancer, pain medication is your only choice
Many non-pharmacological strategies exist for pain relief. The objective of pain therapy is to make your daily life less harrowing. There are a variety of methods that you may employ to assist you in reaching your objectives, whether they be as simple as getting out of bed pain-free or as ambitious as going on a family vacation.
Your symptoms may subside with the help of acupuncture, yoga, deep breathing exercises, and physical therapy. In cases when these methods or drugs have not been successful in treating the patient’s discomfort, the doctor may suggest a neurolytic treatment. This technique involves chemically or thermally impeding the painful nerves so they can no longer convey pain signals to the brain. While this method may relieve temporary pain, the discomfort will likely return after the nerves heal.
Instead of asking your family to foot the bill for your pain medication, you can stick it out
If you have cancer, you should not put off obtaining treatment for your discomfort. Many medications are available, from low-cost morphine derivatives to more costly patches and pumps. Discuss your treatment choices with your doctor if you are short on funds. You might be eligible for pharmaceutical company programs that supply prescriptions at no or little cost.
Many people deal with cancer pain and fail to realize the right way forward. By equipping yourself with the right information, you can take the necessary steps to seek proper treatment. If you or someone you know is dealing with cancer pain, contact Republic Spine and Pain today for the appropriate care.