Pain management is the process of bringing pain under
control. Pain can be a problem with many people at the end of life. Persistent
pain can accelerate the decline in health due to poor nutrition, depression,
lack of social stimulation and lack of exercise. Persistent pain becomes a form
of disability, interfering in the ability to perform common daily tasks. Here
is a list of problems that pain causes to one's self or to others:
·
It is difficult to sleep
·
It is difficult or impossible to pursue hobbies
or personal activities
·
Exhaustion can become a constant companion
·
Depression is a very likely outcome
·
There is little desire to eat
·
It is difficult to enjoy the companionship of
one's family
·
There is reluctance to move about or exercise
·
The patient and the caregiver become more
isolated from the community because of the disability
·
Family and friends who are caregivers become
exhausted because of constant worry.
Chronic pain is a problem most often experienced by terminal
patients who are dying from cancer.
Non-cancer patients at the end of life may have other pain-causing
conditions. This may be caused by such
conditions as neuropathies, chronic back disorders or arthritis.
Chronic or ongoing pain only adds to the suffering of a
critically ill person. If the pain can be brought under control, a seriously
ill patient can have a better quality of life for the remaining time available
to him or her.
Constant pain can also bring on depression, which in turn
could lead to suicide. Many people who cannot endure chronic pain take their
own lives or seek out assisted suicide. Pain management may be a better
alternative than suicide, not so much for the patient but more for the family.
If a loved one takes his or her life, that can produce a permanent scar of
shame or guilt within the family.
The most common line of treatment in pain management is the
use of medications. There are a number of helpful medications and herbal
remedies to relieve chronic pain.
Psychologists who specialize in working with clients who have chronic
pain are also available. The human brain
has a great deal of power over the pain a person feels and with correct therapy
a person may be able to alleviate some of his or her suffering.