Alleviating Bone Pain
- Bone pain can be a side effect of cancer treatment or of the disease itself
- Your doctor can prescribe certain medications to mitigate bone pain and loss
- There are also several integrative methods and lifestyle adjustments your doctor may suggest — such as acupuncture, physical therapy or diet changes
The cancers that most commonly spread to the bone are breast, prostate, and lung cancers. Even though this is advanced disease, there are medications and interventions your doctor may prescribe or suggest that can help you cope with the pain and strengthen bones. These interventions fall into several categories including traditional medical treatments for the pain, medications to prevent further bone loss and strengthen bones, exercises to improve bone strength as well as integrative and alternative approaches to pain.
Read More- Bisphosphonates — These drugs inhibit certain cells that are responsible for bone remodeling and are prescribed to help prevent bone loss
- RANK ligand inhibitors — These drugs can be used to manage osteoporosis and prevent bone fractures and breaks and are sometimes used in patients with multiple myeloma or bone metastasis
- Supplements — Your doctor may recommend taking calcium or vitamin D supplements, both of which help maintain bone health and bone strength.
- Exercising — Staying active — particularly by doing weight-bearing exercises like walking, dancing, walking stairs or using an elliptical — can help keep bones strong. The level of physical activity a person can engage in will vary from patient to patient and should be discussed with your doctor.
- A Healthy Diet — Making sure you maintain a balanced diet is important for overall bone health, and being underweight may increase a person’s risk of bone-related problems.
Dr. Sairah Ahmed, of MD Anderson Cancer Center, explains how diet and exercise are related to cancer care.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation lists a handful of foods to incorporate into your diet that contribute to healthy bones. These include:
- Calcium rich dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese
- Fatty fish like salmon or tuna that are packed with vitamin D
- Greens like kale and broccoli
- Other foods — like juices, milks or cereals — that are fortified with calcium
If a cancer has spread to the bones, your doctor may also consider other treatments options to try to remove or reduce it, like radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy or hormone therapy. The treatment will depend on what type of treatment you have already had, and whether the cancer has spread to more than one area in the bones.
For pain in the bones, whether it is due to cancer spreading, treatment, or a symptom of the cancer itself, there are some alternative methods your doctor may suggest to alleviate the discomfort. ASCO lists several examples of cancer-associated pain relief techniques:
- Acupuncture — This is an ancient form of Chinese medicine that involves inserting tiny needles into specific areas of the body to relieve tension. Many survivors report pain relief from undergoing acupuncture with a licensed practitioner
- Meditation — Many survivors also find that certain forms of meditation or breathing exercises can help relieve pain, tension, and anxiety associated with going through cancer treatment
- Using Heat/Cold — Hot and cold compresses, heating pads, and ice packs can be useful for certain types of pain associated with cancer, according to ASCO
- Physical/Occupational Therapy — A physical therapist will be able to work with you to relieve pain using simple exercises or devices
- Medical Marijuana — The actual data on how helpful marijuana is at alleviating cancer-related pain is not fully conclusive at this point, but anecdotally, many survivors find great relief using medical cannabis products for several problems associated with cancer treatment — from pain to nausea to anxiety
Oncology acupuncturist Dr. Mari Galle explains how the technique can be used to help with pain associated with cancer.
Doctors can also prescribe other medications to deal with cancer-related pain. These can be either opioid or non-opioid medications. Approaches to pain control often incorporate several different methods and can include pain medications and interventions, such as radiation therapy and surgery.
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