 |
You are the key player in your pain relief
For pain relief, doctors and nurses control pain according to three levels of goals:
| [1] |
Control your pain so you can sleep. |
| [2] |
Control your pain so you feel painless if you keep quiet. |
| [3] |
Control your pain so you can move your body. |
In achieving the third level goal, your own pain assessment plays a crucial role. When asked by a doctor or nurse about your pain, you need to describe how it aches without hesitation. Only you can understand your pain since you are the one who experiences the pain. Pain control starts with your accurate reporting of your pain.
Your doctor and nurse will immediately treat your pain. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that doctors who fail to treat pain immediately are ethically unforgivable. It is possible to relieve your pain, and you hold the right to receive treatment or care for that purpose. Some types of pain cannot be relieved, but palliative care or cure (medical treatment) can reduce pain in most patients.
First of all, you need to understand that cancer pain is a symptom that can be relieved, and that pain relief can enable you to resume normal life activities and live as actively as possible.
You feel pain differently in emergency situations
When hit by a disaster, we feel that our lives are threatened, we worry about the consequences of the disaster, and fear imminent secondary disasters. Under such circumstances, your pain may seem worse than usual. This is because your pain threshold has lowered, which is a natural physical reaction. Because of the fear of death, you may become suddenly filled with resentment, feel isolated, or no longer feel like doing anything. You may lose your zest for life under such circumstances, or feel resentment against your misfortune. The mind and body interact with one another: when either one is in bad condition, the other also becomes in bad shape. Such change is a natural reaction for a person who suffers misfortune. By talking about your feelings with your family, nurse or someone you feel comfortable with, your restlessness may be relieved. If this does not work or you remain severely depressed due to a series of hardships, medications or consultations with health professionals will be helpful. Doctors and nurses will listen to you and help you clarify and solve your problems. Talk to an available nurse if you feel like talking about your problems, instead of assuming that there is no point in reporting your problem. You may temporarily need to have a higher dose of pain medicine, as well. Tell a doctor or nurse immediately if you feel strong pain in disaster situations.
The table below shows factors affecting pain sensation.
| Pain increased |
Pain decreased |
Discomfort
Insomnia
Fatigue
Anxiety
Fear
Anger
Sadness
Depression
Boredom
Mental isolation
Social abandonment
|
Relief of other symptoms
Sleep
Understanding
Companionship
Creative activity
Relaxation
Reduction in anxiety
Elevation of mood
|
|
Source: Twycross and Wilcock, “Symptom Management in Advanced Cancer, 3rd ed.” trans./ed. Fumikazu Takeda; Table 2.1 partially altered, Igakushoin, 2003.
In disaster situations, it is difficult to eliminate many of these factors. However, your pain can be reduced not only by taking pain medicines but also by asking volunteers to listen to you, getting a massage by a volunteer, having hot meals and chats with other people, and relaxing. Don’t hesitate to ask available volunteers for help.
|
|
