Many people have found that other methods besides drugs help control pain. This second article of a two-part series discusses other pain management techniques and ways to track their success.

Your doctor should be able to help you manage pain using more than one method. Share with your doctor any methods that have worked well for you. Ask if they have any suggestions for nonmedical treatment, and if there are any special considerations when selecting techniques in your situation. Make your pain management a priority in your care; you deserve to feel your best.

Self-care and support techniques as a supplement to medical care

The following techniques have helped many people with cancer achieve better pain management:

Counseling and support groups. Talking with a trained counselor or attending a cancer support group may provide a valuable forum for addressing worries about cancer and pain and help you develop coping strategies. Hearing about techniques that have worked for others in the same situation may help you identify what might work for you. Discussing concerns and getting support may also help relieve some of the physical and emotional tension that can make pain worse.

Imagery and visualization. Many imagery techniques are useful for pain and discomfort associated with treatment. The "magic glove" is a technique in which you imagine putting on a glove before getting a needle stick, and visualize that the glove protects your hand from the sensation of pain. The "light switch" method involves visualizing a light switch that you can control and that has the power to turn off pain signals. Or, you may benefit from simple visualization exercises in which you imagine a peaceful scene or a favorite memory, listen to music and imagine that music melting away your discomfort or lifting your pain away, or create a mental picture of a healing light that takes pain up and away.

Massage. A qualified massage therapist who has experience working with people with cancer can provide gentle therapeutic massage to alleviate tension, discomfort, and pain. Simple massage techniques including gentle, smooth, circular rubbing of feet, hands, or back can be done at home by a caregiver. You can also massage yourself by applying light, even pressure to your hands, arms, neck, and forehead.

Heat and cold. Many people with cancer find that applying hot or cold compresses, heating pads, or ice packs to aching, sore, or painful areas of the body can diminish discomfort. Discuss this approach with a health-care provider and follow any special instructions, particularly during or after radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Start with short applications of 5 to 10 minutes at moderate temperatures. Make sure not to apply heat or cold directly on bare or injured skin or to areas that have received recent radiation therapy. Wrap ice packs and compresses in a towel to protect skin and use heating pads over clothing, a sheet, or a towel. Gradually experiment with temperatures to find a method that provides relief comfortably. A warm bath is another way to get heat evenly applied to a large area at once.

Breathing exercises. Gentle breathing exercises can enhance relaxation, reduce tension, and decrease pain. They can be done while sitting up in a chair, arms relaxed gently at the sides, or while lying down in a reclining chair or bed. Try breathing in through the nostrils, counting one, two; then breathing out through the mouth, counting one, two. Continue for five minutes initially, gradually working up to 20 minutes. Or, while breathing gently in and out, repeat a calming word such as “peace” or “relax” with each inhalation.

Distraction. Activities such as taking a warm bath, reading a book, watching television or a movie, drawing, doing needlework, listening to music, or taking a short walk outdoors can provide an engaging way to distract the mind from pain. Choose an activity or media that will create the mood desired: relaxing, upbeat, soothing. While the mind is actively engaged in the chosen activity, many people find that their pain is diminished.

Table to track pain reduction

Health-care providers are often interested in tracking your success with pain management techniques. One idea is to create a table (see below) with the days of the week across the top and things you would like to track down the side, such as time of day, supportive techniques, activity level, or anything else you can think of. It's not necessary to fill in every box every day. Simply write down what you can remember from your days and look for the trends of what is working for you. Pick a level you would like to reach; for example, a pain rating of 3 or less. At the end of the week, highlight all days in which you had that score or lower, and you will be able to see which situations and techniques are helping you on the road toward being pain-free.

More Information

Cancer.Net Feature: Managing and Treating Cancer Pain (Part I)

Managing Side Effects: Pain

Cancer.Net Feature: Complementary Medicine: Information for Patients

Questions to Ask When Considering Complementary or Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Additional Resources

CancerCare: Controlling Cancer Pain: What You Need to Know to Get Relief

National Cancer Institute: Pain Control