Managing the pain

Last few days have been totally overshadowed by major pain issues. So much so that I had to cancel an MRI scan that was booked for Thursday morning. Wednesday evening it came to a head when it took nearly an hour to get into bed because every movement was sending excruciating pain to my right arm and shoulder.

Having got into bed and relaxed I went to sleep. 3 hours later and the morphine had worn off, I woke to even more pain: and every slightest movement resulted in waves of pain. I was stuck! and couldn't get off the bed or stop the pain.

Finally we had to call an ambulance, and the two paramedics who came were brilliant. Unable to physically lift me because of the pain, they administered Entonox, which within a few minutes had enabled them to lift me into a sitting position, and then get off the bed. Entonox is the good old old nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture often used in childbirth to manage pain. Worked for me!!! I wonder what all the fuss is about giving birth: with entonox on hand, as Aleksandr the Compare the Market meerkat would say "Simples!"

So, the rest of wednesday night spent sat in a chair not daring to go back to bed. Struggled through Thursday with a visit to the GP who changed some of the tablets I take but with little effect: and as the pain was still bad last night, I sat up in a chair the whole night.

Being tired is bad enough but being tired and in pain just compounds the whole thing. This morning, through the oncology nurse at the hospital we arranged a home visit from a member of the Pain Management Team. A quick review, and a new pain regime which is already in place which might take 48 hours to work fully, but I have a good feeling about this because they are experts, and are already offering all kinds of additional help and advice as well as out of hours numbers, and further suggestions regarding the overall treatment of the cancer based upon the fact that the biggest issue right now is the pain. They have pushed a new prescription request through to the GP and that will be sorted this evening so that it can start working over the weekend.

Thank goodness there are some people in the NHS who know their job, and that the comfort and well being of a patient is of pretty high importance in a treatment regime. Compare that to the receptionists at our local surgery and in fact there is no comparison!