Pain medicine, pain management, fibromyalgia, Arizona pain, back pain, pain treatment, discography, back pain, neck pain, migraine., headaches, sciatica, muscle pain, Arizona pain center, acupuncture, arthritis, Arizona, Scottsdale, phoenix
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Pain associated with cancer can take many forms and is experienced differently by each patient.  Pain can be sharp
and severe, or it can be a dull constant ache.  Regardless of the type of pain, a diagnosis of cancer does not mean you
have to suffer with debilitating pain.  The physicians at Arizona Pain Specialists understand the devastating effects
cancer related pain can have on you life and will work diligently to develop a treatment plan that meets your specific
needs.  We are happy to offer a host of pain relief options to the phoenix area.  



Pathology

Cancer pain can be caused by many different sources.  Pain can be experienced when a tumor presses on nerves or
expands inside a hollow organ.  Pain also commonly originates from bone destructive lytic lesions.  Bone marrow
infiltration commonly cause bone pain that can be severe.  Unfortunately the radiation and chemotherapeutic
treatments that are frequently used to treat cancer can also cause pain.



Treatment

The treatment for pain due to cancer is specific to an individual.  It is important for you and your pain physician to
develop a treatment regimen that will be most beneficial and successful for you.  Some of the commonly used non-drug
pain treatments include:

Pharmacotherapy:  NSAIDs (Ibuprofen like drugs), opiod type medications, muscle relaxants, and membrane-stabilizing
medications can be very effective in treating cancer pain.

Nerve blocks: Specific nerve blocks and neurodestructive procedures can help relieve pain conditions due to cancer.  
One such block is used for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, Celiac Plexus Blocks can be extremely
effective at treating difficult pain.   Recent studies show this technique helped to control pain and reduce pain
medication consumption (Yan 2007).  Your pain physician will determine which nerve block treatment is right for you.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): is a technique that relieves pain by applying mild electric current
to the skin at the site of the pain.  The electric impulses interfere with normal pain sensations and alter perceptions that
were previously painful.

Intrathecal Pumps: Implanted pain pumps are also available which can be extremely helpful providing long-term pain
control.  The effectiveness of intrathecal therapy in patients suffering from nociceptive pain showed a pain reduction in
66.7% of patients experiencing pain due to cancer (Becker 2000).


Biofeedback: This is a treatment that teaches a patient to become aware of processes that are normally thought to be
involuntary inside of the body (such as blood pressure, temperature and heart rate control).  This method enables you
to gain some conscious control of these processes, which can influence and improve your level of pain.  A better
awareness of ones body teaches one to effectively relax and this can help to relieve pain.  

Massage: Gentle focal rubbing of the tender areas may help relieve muscle spasms or contractions and improve
associated discomfort.  Massage can also be help patients relax, decreasing stress and tension.

Radiation therapy and surgery: can also have palliative outcomes for cancer patients.

Articles

Current management of pain in patients with cancer. Oncology (Williston Park). 1994 Mar;8(3):93-107; discussion 107,
110, 115 Grossman SA, Staats PS. PMID: 7912540

Neurolytic celiac plexus block for pain control in unresectable pancreatic cancer. Yan BM, Myers RP. Am J
Gastroenterol. 2007 Feb;102(2):430-8. Epub 2006 Nov 13 PMID: 17100960

The significance of intrathecal opioid therapy for the treatment of neuropathic cancer pain conditions. Becker R, Jakob
D, Uhle EI, Riegel T, Bertalanffy H. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg. 2000;75(1):16-26 PMID: 11416261
RECLAIM YOUR LIFE.
Reclaim Your Life.  Call for an
appointment Today.
Arizona Pain Specialists
9787 N. 91st Street, Suite 101
Scottsdale, AZ. 85258  
Phone:  480-563-6400
Pain medicine, pain management, fibromyalgia, Arizona pain, back pain, pain treatment, discography, back pain, neck pain, migraine., headaches, sciatica, muscle pain, Arizona pain center, acupuncture, arthritis, Arizona, Scottsdale, phoenix
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Pain medicine, pain management, fibromyalgia, Arizona pain, back pain, pain treatment, discography, back pain, neck pain, migraine., headaches, sciatica, muscle pain, Arizona pain center, acupuncture, arthritis, Arizona, Scottsdale, phoenix
Cancer Pain
by Nicole Berardoni M.D, Paul Lynch M.D, and Tory McJunkin M.D

Cancer is a devastating diagnosis that affects people on several
different levels.  Many people with cancer eventually experience
pain due to their condition.  Approximately twenty percent of
patients with newly diagnosed malignancies complain of pain.
Thirty percent of patients undergoing cancer treatment complain
of pain, and up to ninety percent of those with advanced cancer
experience pain (Grossman 1994).
Pain medicine, pain management, fibromyalgia, Arizona pain, back pain, pain treatment, discography, back pain, neck pain, migraine., headaches, sciatica, muscle pain, Arizona pain center, acupuncture, arthritis, Arizona, Scottsdale, phoenix
Book I  -  Pain Syndromes

Chapter 1     Low Back Pain
Chapter 2     Neck Pain
Chapter 3     Cancer Pain
Chapter 4     Headaches
Chapter 5     Spinal Stenosis
Chapter 6     Sciatica
Chapter 7     Arthritis
Chapter 8     Fibromyalgia
Chapter 9     Motor Vehicle Injuries
Chapter 10   Complex Regional Pain
Syndrome
Chapter 11   Vertebral Body
Fractures
Chapter 12   Hip and Leg Pain
Chapter 13   Diabetic Peripheral
Neuropathy

Book II  -  Interventional Procedures

Chapter 14   Epidural Steroid
Injection
Chapter 15   Facet Injections/Medial
Branch Blocks
Chapter 16   Radiofrequency Ablation
Chapter 17   Spinal Cord Stimulator
Implants
Chapter 18   IntraDiscal
Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)
Chapter 19   
Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty   
Chapter 20   Discography
Chapter 21   Percutaneous
Discectomy
Chapter 22   Occipital Nerve Block
Chapter 23   Sympathetic Block
Chapter 24   Stellate Ganglion Block
Chapter 25   Intrathecal Pump
Implants
Chapter 26   Caudal Steroid Injection
Chapter 27   Adhesiolysis
Chapter 28   Cervical Steroid
Injection
Chapter 29   Sacroiliac Joint
Injections
Chapter 30   Celiac Plexus Block
Chapter 31   Head and Neck
Procedures
Chapter 32   Joint Injections
Chapter 33   Continuous Catheter
Nerve Blocks
Chapter 34   Peripheral Nerve
Stimulation/Field Stimulation
Chapter 35   Disc Denervation

Book III   Other Treatments

Chapter 36   Medication Management
Chapter 37   Acupuncture
Chapter 38   Prolotherapy
Chapter 39   Botox
Chapter 40   Massage
Chapter 41   Alternative and
Complementary Medicines
Chapter 42   Exercise and Nutrition
Counseling
Chapter 43   Prayer
Chapter 44   Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy
Chapter 45   Group Therapy
Chapter 46   Biofeedback
Chapter 47   Chiropractic
Manipulations
Chapter 48   Vitamin Supplements
Chapter 49   Customized
Pharmaceutical Formulations
Chapter 50   Hormone Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions