Pain
Factors That Affect People With Pain

People respond to pain in many different ways. Listed here are influences that affect the way people respond to pain:

• Religious Beliefs



• Culture (customs, way of life, background, traditions)



• Age



• Gender (male or female)



• Anxiety



• Fear



• Wanting to be a "good patient", so patient's don't report their pain

The Effects of Cancer Pain

Approximately 60-70% of people with cancer will experience pain at some point during their illness. ⁷ The effects of cancer pain vary from patient to patient but can include fatigue, irritability, decreased appetite, drowsiness and withdrawal from family and friends.

Cancer pain may affect the person's mental and emotional state. The patient may have trouble making decisions and thinking clearly, or concentrating while reading or watching television.

Pain can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and frustration, often resulting in despair or hopelessness. Pain that is not controlled may have the following effects:

• Inability to have a quality life



• Increase in pain and other symptoms



• Delayed recovery and healing time



• Shortened life expectancy



• Increase in healthcare expenses



• Increase in infections and other ailments



• Increase in risk of suicide

Concerns That Influence The Use of Pain Medicine

Addiction is an emotional need for pain medication because of the feeling that is received from the medicine. Addiction is seeking the medicine when it is not being taken due to pain. Addiction rarely occurs when a patient is taking pain medicine for its proper use of blocking pain. Fear of addiction is one of the greatest barriers to adequate pain control.² Tolerance is one of the physical effects that can occur when a drug is used over a period of time. When tolerance occurs, the drug is no longer effective at the present dose because the body has adjusted to it, and now needs a higher dose. It is important to increase the drug in small doses to maintain adequate control of pain. Physical dependence occurs when the drug is taken over a long period of time. The patient will experience signs of withdrawal such as twitching, agitation, sweating and nausea and vomiting, if the medicine is stopped abruptly. Tolerance and physical dependency are natural occurrences, which happen to all people who take opioid (narcotic) pain medicines. This is normal and in no way indicates you are doing anything wrong. Opioids should be gradually decreased over a period of time after a discussion with your healthcare team. It is important that you and your family and care givers understand the difference between these terms.