Cancer Pain

How does cancer cause pain?

Cancer can cause pain itself, and many of the treatments for cancer have painful and disruptive side effects. 

For example, a tumor can cause pain. Depending on its size and location, it could compress your spinal cord or a peripheral nerve. Additionally, you could experience bone pain if your cancer spreads to your bones. 

Cancer treatments also cause pain. You could have surgical pain following a procedure to remove your tumor. In some cases, surgical pain can outlast the physical recovery period. Some patients also experience phantom pain after a surgery to remove cancerous tissue or if you need to have a breast or another part of your body removed to prevent your cancer from spreading.

Chemotherapy and radiation both cause debilitating side-effects, including pain. Some of the pain caused by these treatments include:

• Peripheral neuropathy
• Radiation injuries like radiation mucositis
• Sores in your mouth or throat

While you shouldn’t avoid treatment or diagnostic tests because of pain, you should talk to your doctor about what to expect and get help to manage cancer-related pain. 

Is there relief from cancer pain?

While cancer and its treatments can cause pain, remember that you can manage pain. Republic Spine and Pain believes that pain management is a critical part of cancer care. Maintaining your overall health and well-being helps you stay strong through your battle with cancer. Pain relief helps you feel better, stronger, and more capable of winning your fight. 

How is cancer pain managed?

The interventional pain management doctors at Republic Spine and Pain offer customized, multidisciplinary treatment plans for cancer pain. Depending on your pain and general health, they create a program to alleviate your pain and enhance your well-being. For example, you may benefit from:

• Medication management
• Nerve blocks
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Intrathecal (spinal) injections
• Spinal cord stimulator

In some cases, the doctors implant a pain pump, which allows you to regulate your pain medication.  

Your doctor at Republic Spine and Pain may also incorporate complementary therapies, including massage, acupuncture, and yoga into your pain management program to help relieve pain and enhance your overall wellness. 

If you have cancer pain, call Republic Spine and Pain or schedule a consultation online today for compassionate, effective pain management.