Mesothelioma Pain Management
People fear mesothelioma because of the pain involved in the disease. But patients can be relieved of this pain through a combination of medications. There are different causes of pains for different patients. For example, the pain might be due to the growth of a tumor when it presses on nerves or other vital organs, or the pain might be due to radiation and chemotherapies or there might be pain arising out of normal causes like arthritis, kidney stones etc.
For mild to moderate pain, over the counter drugs like Nonopioids are used whereas prescription drugs like aspirin and acetaminophen are also in use. Opioids or Narcotics like morphine, codeine, fentanyl can be used for mild to moderate pain and for breakthrough pain rapid onset Opioids available via doctor’s prescription can be used.
But the pain medications are not free from side effects. The most common side effects include nausea and vomiting, sleepiness and constipation. Other serious side effects include dizziness, rash, and even a trouble in breathing. One should consult a doctor as soon these side effects are perceived.
The pain medications include mostly the opioids. There are different modes of administering pain medication. The simplest form is the intake of a pill, capsule or a liquid through mouth. In Transdermal (Skin) Patch method, the medicine is released through a bandage into the skin for 2-3 days. A subcutaneous injection is often used to push the medicine just under the skin whereas in Intravenous injection medicine is entered directly into the veins. Intrathecal and epidural injections are often used to push the medicine into the fluid around the spinal cord. Using Pumps, a patient can regulate the flow of the pain medications.
As told earlier, each patient has his own individualized need of pain medications. Therefore, one should consult a doctor if there are persistent side effects or if there is no relief at all and if the medication intervenes with the routine activities.