Different treatments for different types of pain
Although we associate it with pain, not all people have ailments.
What it is, symptoms and treatments
Cancer is a pathology in which certain abnormal cells grow and divide uncontrollably in the body, thus destroying a person’s healthy tissues. This abnormality can be generated in any part of the body, so it is a disease that can affect any individual and, if there is no support from a specialist, can spread throughout the body.
Although we usually associate cancer with pain, not all people have ailments. But when discomforts begin to arise that prevent the person from continuing with daily activities, it is essential to go to a specialist so that he or she can look for an alternative that will allow the patient to alleviate the pain caused by cancer. If the cancer pain is not given the necessary attention, the patient may not only have difficulty performing his or her activities, but there may be emotional changes that can further weaken the person.
Symptoms of cancer pain
In the area of health, cancer pain is divided into two groups:
Nociceptive:
Patients who present with this type of ailment are because there is already damage to body tissues, which causes the patient to feel sharp or stabbing pains, which are constant or permanent. This type of discomfort may be due to the spread of cancer in the bones or other tissues, as well as a blockage in an artery.
Neuropathic:
This type of cancer pain is characterized by people associating pain with a feeling of heaviness, numbness, and burning. This may be due to damage to the nerves already in place because the tumor may be pressing on some regions of a nerve group. When the patient has these conditions, select analgesics will be needed. Many times, treatments aimed at this pathology can eliminate cancer pain. Still, indeed, certain of them can also increase the pain, so it is necessary to look for methods to alleviate the discomfort. Although sometimes it will not be possible to eliminate the pain, there may be a considered decrease in cancer pain; it is only a matter of having the help and advice of a specialist.
Causes of cancer pain
The intensity of the pain depends a lot on the type of cancer, the stage of the pathology, the diseases the patient has, the treatments, and the pressure the tumor is putting on the nerves, bones, or any other organ.
Pressure on the spinal cord:
When the tumor is exerting compression on the spinal cord, people may have discomfort in areas of the back and neck, this discomfort can be chronic. Other symptoms that may be generated are numbness and weakness in the arms and legs. When this feeling of pressure on the spinal cord arises, it is necessary to go to the doctor because, if the cancer pain is not treated in time, there may be problems in the bladder or intestinal area.
Bone pain:
The pain that is generated in the bones originate because cancer causes it to spread to these structures, thus affecting their functionality. Many times the treatments to fight this pathology, such as radiotherapy, can affect the external protection of the bones. Another reason why bone pain may occur is because of certain medications used to prevent the loss of white blood cells in the body.
Pain from surgical procedures:
After surgery to treat cancer, the patient may have pain that can last for a few weeks or only days. In these cases, minor treatment should be considered to relieve cancer pain.
Chemotherapy side effects:
This treatment can be very useful in fighting cancer, but there are also side effects that can cause the patient pain. Discomforts that may result are numbness, weakness, and difficulty walking. This is because the peripheral nerves are damaged in treatment by a vitamin deficiency or some other disease. Regardless of the reason, you have cancer pain; you need to see a specialist right away so that he or she can recommend the ideal procedure to combat the pain you have.
Treatments for cancer pain
Some of the treatments to combat pain in some regions of the body are:
Neurolytic celiac plexus block:
This procedure is indicated in those patients who have pancreatic cancer, one of the most challenging types of cancer to treat. To combat the pain that the patient presents, the specialists use this method, where the nerve fibers that cause the discomfort that occurs in the abdomen are blocked, thus preventing these signals from being sent to the brain. With this type of technique, it has been proven that patients present minor ranges of pain.
Neurolytic ganglion impar:
Patients who have chronic perineal pain due to cancer may opt for this treatment. The odd ganglion is responsible for receiving innervation of areas such as the urethra, rectum, perineum, scrotum, among others. The discomforts that occur are associated with the need to defecate; to combat this discomfort, different procedures can be used. Some of them are ganglion blockage, cryotherapy, or radiofrequency.
Neurolytic superior hypogastric plexus block:
This is a procedure where the patient is given medication through injections into the upper plexus, thus blocking the fibers that cause pain in areas such as the vagina, bladder, prostate, penis, rectum, or colon. The medicine (anesthesia) will block nerve signals to relieve pain. It is essential that, in the event of any ailment, you go to the doctor immediately. These ailments can be treated before, during, and after procedures focused on treating cancer. But it is essential to get adequate treatment to fight cancer pain; you have the help of a specialist.