Pain is one of the symptoms that worries people the most. People may not know how pain can be treated and may think that pain is inevitable. Pain does not have to be a part of life with a terminal illness.

It helps to keep a record of the pain(s) being experienced. This can help when explaining to doctors or other health professionals. Pain diaries or records can be used to monitor pain and what is being taken for pain.
  
Morphine is a medicine that is often used to help control pain. Some people may not be familiar with its role in managing pain. Others may be worried about using these types of medications. There are resources that can help to explain the benefits and side effects of morphine and other strong painkillers.
 
It is important to talk to health professionals about pain. They need to know whether it is getting better, whether it is getting worse or whether it has moved or changed. Treating pain when it first occurs improves the chances that pain can be controlled. Not treating pain as it occurs (eg, “saving painkillers until it is really bad”) may make it more difficult to control. 

 

Resources

• Palliative Care Victoria has developed some resources that may be of help, and includes information about pain and managing pain.
• The Cancer Council of SA has information on understanding and controlling cancer pain.
• Palliative Care Australia has the following useful resources
  • Pain diary
  • Medicines list
  • Facts about morphine and other opioid medicines in palliative care.
• The Handbook for Mortals is an online book written by Joanne Lynn. It has a useful section on understanding and controlling pain.
• The Canadian Virtual Hospice has information on managing pain.
• The Hospice Foundation of America has a webpage looking at common myths about pain.

Related CareSearch pages
Symptoms
What are complementary therapies?
Some of the more common therapies
 

This page was created on 26 May 2009 and is due for review in May 2011