Coping with pain

Hi Happy camper

Pain is a terrible thing, the oncologist likes to keep radiotherapy as late as possible, it’s one of my plan b/c treatments, I take co codormol but have a back up of tramadol, stronger and not for everyone, there are other medications out there, just depends how the oncologist or your doctor sees what your husband could be ok with. 
I would definitely ask for a pain management see what they say.

Stay safe

Joe

Thanks Joe, very helpful and hope you are doing OK

Hi

There are good days and bad, you hail the good ones and get through the bad ones, I presume he is on one of the hormone treatments which helps. I’ve been on mine for five and a half years now along with enzalutamide which I see he has had.

Stay safe

Joe

The thing about Radiotherapy is that they can only use it once, so they will delay so long as they can.

Bone pain is pretty much the worst - partly because the cancer is growing in a tight space, so is applying maximum pressure, but also because the blood supply to bones is poor, so it's hard from the painkillers to get to the pain.

Paracetamol-based painkillers like co-codamol work best if taken regularly - usually so that he gets 1g of paracetamol every six hours. If that isn't enough, they can add in another drug, but keep taking the 6hrly paracetamol, because it usually has no side effects at all at that strength, and it does 'take the edge off', so a smaller dose of stronger drugs  (which usually have side effects) will be enough.

I hope that makes sense!

Also, ask for a referral to the hospice team; most hospices do outreach, and they are the 'pain control experts'

Very clear and helpful, thanks