Pain-related to cancer may occur when the tumor enlarges and presses against nearby nerves, organs, or other tissues. Notably, some types of cancerous tumors release chemicals that cause inflammation and pain.
Cancer surgery, chemotherapy, and other treatments can also cause pain as a side effect. Certain hormonal therapies prescribed for breast cancer, for instance, may lead to significant joint and muscle pain.
Pain-related to arthritis and other noncancerous conditions may also worsen during your cancer treatment. That may be due to decreasing pain tolerance and the effects of the therapy on your overall physical health.
Poorly treated pain can have a significant impact on your physical health and your emotional well-being, both of which are vitally important to overcoming the effects of cancer.
Complications related to chronic pain include:
All these factors can interfere with your response to cancer treatments. They may result in a general sense of malaise that prevents you from participating in exercise programs, enjoyable hobbies, or other activities beneficial to your health.
Most cancer pain is controllable with treatment, and the goal is to alleviate the discomfort and stop future pain before it starts.
Your Pain Specialists of Oregon provider may recommend a combination of therapies to successfully manage your pain, which may include:
During this in-office injection procedure, your specialist delivers an anesthetic that may be combined with a corticosteroid into the targeted nerve area. The anesthetic plus the steroid numbs the area and decreases inflammation that’s irritating the nerve.
Radiofrequency ablation (RA) is performed in the office under X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy). During the procedure, your provider uses a specialized needle to deliver radiofrequency current into the targeted nerve.
That heats the nerve tissue and causes targeted damage to interfere with its ability to send pain messages to your brain. While the targeted nerves eventually regrow, the pain relief can last for many months. RA may also be repeated as necessary.
Other treatments your specialist may recommend for cancer pain include:
For effective relief from cancer pain, call the Pain Specialists of Oregon office to schedule an appointment or use the online scheduling tool to request a visit.