Question:I was disagnosed with Head/Neck cancer having spread to my neck, bones,
and lungs. I've been having severe pain in my back where the bone
cancer is and haven't been able to get adequate pain relief even thugh
I'm using a 50 mg Duragesic patch and oxycodone.
Is this pain an indication that my bone cancer is spreading? Is there
anything else I can be doing to help relieve the pain. The only time I
dont have pain is when I finally fall asleep at night. I can't sleep
in bed since there's too much pain when I stand so I sleep in my
recliner in the living room. Plus I usually get a nap in during the
day. But is anyone familiar with this pain? The doctors try to
treat it and ignore it t the same time. They don't know whats causing
it (so they say).
Answer:It is highly unlikely that vitamin supplements etc. will stop bone
pain. As much of this pain is inflammatory in nature strong pain killers
like morphine and Fentanyl(Duragesic) seldom relieve it all.
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Naprosyn, Indocid, Feldene often are very
effective especially in combination with narcotic analgesia and can be
taken as suppositories if swallowing is a problem. Steroids such as
dexamethasone may be of benefit
Sometimes, especially where the spine is involved, nerves can become
involved and none of the conventional painkillers work very well.
Antidepressant drugs such as amitriptylline or antiepilectic drugs like
epilim can be very effective.
If you are getting muscle spasm then valium or one of the related drugs
may help and don't forget simple remedies like a hot pack or locally
applied linament but DON"T let anyone massage or manipulate as this can be
very dangerous for fragile bones.
You should be under the care of a specialised palliative (hospice) care
nurse and doctor. Regular doctors and other specialists very often are way
out of their depth when it comes to symptom control in cancer
