Dads pain management

FormerMember over 5 years ago

2 replies
124 subscribers
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Hi, my dad has recently been diagnosed with colorectal cancer that has spread to bones and lymph nodes. He lives abroad and the way they deal with pain management seems to be very different to here.

He’s currently taking 40mg morphine 3 x a day. Alongside tramadol and fentanyl patches. This combination is still leaving him with unbearable pain. And the morphine apparently just passes straight through him, leading to him taking more medication, today alone he’s taken 15 tablets, 600mg.

I’m wondering if he were to return to this country would his pain management be any different? Also he’s currently at home, is this something that should be dealt with in a hospital environment until it’s under control?

court over 5 years ago

Hi ,

I am really sorry to hear about your dad . All I can say that here he would have some of the following options . A referral to a pain clinic which is ran by anaesthetists and look carefully at breakthrough pain . That can apparently cause the problem as they are left with periods of time with no pain relief until they can take the next dose . But that is all handled by highly trained doctors and tailored to suit individuals. The other option could be a Hospice referral where it would be short term purely to get medications that worked but in a clinical environment.

We also have a helpline 0808 808 0000 and they would be able to access information from the Macmillan nurses on what options are available or appropriate. Mine is all second hand from helping a neighbour. Both of the above were very helpful for her .

It must be very difficult for you to know he is in pain . I hope you get it resolved quickly for him as I am sure with the right professionals involved it must surely be doable .

take care ,

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to court

My grandfather had prostate cancer that had spread to his spine and had radiotherapy to his spine purely for pain relief. He was in a wheelchair at that point anyway but the thinking was that it destroyed the nerves local to the bone spread which stopped the pain. I don't know if that would be another option depending on where your Dad's pain is coming from.

Nicky