Breakthrough pain is a sudden and intense flare-up of pain that occurs despite ongoing pain management. It can happen unexpectedly, even for individuals already managing chronic pain with pain medicine, and can disrupt daily activities, making it essential to seek effective pain relief treatments.
If you experience breakthrough pain, a Tulsa pain management doctor at Memorial Pain Clinic can provide you with effective treatment therapies that target these flair-ups and relieve your symptoms. From medication adjustments to alternative therapies, we’ll develop a comprehensive pain management approach that can help reduce the intensity of breakthrough pain episodes.
If you are struggling with breakthrough pain and need expert guidance, reach out to Memorial Pain Clinic today. Call (918) 200-9944 to schedule an appointment with us today!
What Is Breakthrough Pain?
According to the National Cancer Institute, breakthrough pain is a sudden and intense flare-up of pain that occurs despite ongoing pain management. It typically arises in individuals who are already taking pain medicine for chronic pain but experience episodes of heightened pain that will “break through” their baseline pain relief.
These episodes can vary in duration and intensity, often requiring additional or specialized interventions to address.
What Causes Breakthrough Pain?
Breakthrough pain can be triggered by a variety of factors, including physical activity, stress, or changes in the underlying condition causing chronic pain. Other times, breakthrough pain occurs due to the natural wearing off of long-acting pain medications before the next dose is due. However, in some cases, it happens without an identifiable cause, making it unpredictable and challenging to manage.
Breakthrough Pain Symptoms
Breakthrough pain is characterized by specific symptoms that distinguish it from chronic pain, including:
- Sudden, severe pain that peaks quickly.
- Pain that lasts a short time, typically minutes to a few hours.
- Pain that occurs despite regular pain medication.
- Pain that occurs in the same location as chronic pain or in a new area.
If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, consulting a pain management specialist can help identify appropriate treatment options.
Common Types of Breakthrough Pain
There are several types of breakthrough pain, each with its own characteristics and triggers. These can vary depending on the underlying condition and the patient’s treatment plan, and they often require different approaches for effective management.
Breakthrough Pain After Surgery
Breakthrough pain after surgery refers to sudden, intense pain episodes that occur despite being on a pain management regimen. Patients may experience sharp or severe pain that comes on quickly and feels more intense than their baseline surgical pain.
Oftentimes, this happens because surgical pain can fluctuate due to factors like physical movement, stress on the surgical site, or the diminishing effect of long-acting pain medications between doses.
Breakthrough Cancer Pain
Cancer-related breakthrough pain is a sudden and severe flare-up of pain that occurs even when a patient is on regular pain medication for chronic cancer pain. Cancer patients often describe it as intense and rapid in onset, lasting from minutes to hours.
This pain can be triggered by movement, medical procedures, or seemingly no identifiable cause. It can occur because the underlying cancer or its treatments can intermittently exacerbate nerve or tissue damage beyond the control of baseline cancer pain management.
Breakthrough Pain in Those Managing Chronic Pain
Breakthrough pain while managing chronic pain is an intense, sudden surge of pain that occurs even when a patient is undergoing chronic pain treatment. Patients often report it as unpredictable and more severe than their usual chronic pain, which can disrupt daily activities and emotional well-being.
This often occurs when the patient’s baseline pain medications sometimes fail to fully manage chronic pain, especially when additional physical or emotional stressors arise, or when the effects of long-acting medications start to wear off.
Breakthrough Pain Flare-Ups
Breakthrough pain flare-ups are sudden, temporary episodes of severe pain that intensify beyond a patient’s usual pain levels. These flare-ups can occur unexpectedly or be triggered by specific activities, stressors, or changes in medication effectiveness. They often interrupt daily routines and may require additional measures to manage and relieve pain.
How Is Breakthrough Pain Treated?
There are a few ways to treat breakthrough pain, including a combination of medications, non-pharmacological therapies, and lifestyle adjustments. These pain management approaches work together to relieve pain in both the long term and the short term.
Pain Medicine for Treating Breakthrough Pain
Breakthrough pain medication can help manage these painful flare-ups by providing rapid or supplemental pain relief. Short-acting or fast-acting medications, such as rapid-onset opioids or non-opioid analgesics, are often prescribed to address these sudden pain episodes quickly.
These medications are typically used in conjunction with the same pain relief therapies the patient was already undergoing to bridge gaps in the patient’s pain management plan for things like arthritis pain or severe cancer pain. These short-acting opioid treatments can also help control the pain triggered by specific activities or stressors. Proper medication management is essential to avoid overuse while ensuring effective pain relief.
Other Treatment Options
Beyond medication, treatment options for breakthrough pain may include physical therapy, relaxation techniques, or nerve blocks to target the source of pain more directly. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness practices can also help patients manage their response to this type of pain and reduce its impact. For certain cases, other treatments like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or interventional procedures may be recommended to provide more sustained relief.
Contact Memorial Pain Clinic Today for Breakthrough Pain Relief in Tulsa, OK
At Memorial Pain Clinic, we understand the challenges that breakthrough pain can bring to your daily life. When faced with breakthrough pain, we’re proud to help people with cancer pain, chronic pain, surgery pain, and other types of persistent pain in Tulsa find the relief they deserve.
We offer personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs, utilizing a combination of medication, therapies, and other advanced pain management techniques to treat chronic pain and breakthrough pain flare-ups. Our compassionate specialists are committed to helping you regain control and improve your quality of life.
Call us today at (918) 200-9944 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your consultation. Take the first step toward a pain-free tomorrow with Memorial Pain Clinic.
