Pain relief for a cancer and arthritis patient in New York City?

August 11, 2010 6:27 PM

My father, in his late 60s, is a prostate cancer and arthritis patient and is currently in a lot of pain to the point where he doubles over groaning. His oncologist and general practitioner have prescribed Oxycodone, which he takes one-two at a time, but sometimes even that doesn't help and other times it makes him sick. The MDs aren't sure whether the cancer or arthritis are to blame at the moment. He'll go back on chemo on Monday and get a full set of scans in September. Meanwhile, does anyone have recommendations for pain relief of the mainstream or alternative variety? He has already tried acupuncture without great success. His lives in NYC. Thank you.
posted by AlmondEyes to Health & Fitness (10 answers total)

Is he being completely clear with his oncologist regarding the extent of the pain. If his oncologist is not able to find a plan that meets your father's needs he should ask for a referral to a pain specialist. I am not aware of any alternative therapies that can address the pain experienced by cancer patients. There are additional mainstream plans that are available to your father but they must be sorted out with the proper physician. It is not uncommon for patients to minimize (understate) their pain when they are meeting with their physician. Is anyone going with him to meet with the oncologist.
posted by rmhsinc at 6:36 PM on August 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

First-generation OTC antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and meclizine (Dramamine II), though they have no analgesic effects on their own, are sometimes used in combination with opioid painkillers such as oxycodone because they potentiate analgesia while inhibiting nausea. The only downside is increased drowsiness.
posted by dephlogisticated at 7:11 PM on August 11, 2010

It could be the codine that's making him sick, a lot of people have a gut wrenching reaction to it. Oxycontin might be a better fit for him. Some docs are hesitant to prescribe it because of the potential for abuse, and if that's the case, find a new doctor. Your dad has cancer and arthritis, he needs nothing less than industrial strength narcotics. Percocet and morphine are good options, too, though Percocet is probably the better one, since morphine causes nightmares and if your dad has trouble with codine there is a greater chance he'll have trouble with morphine, too.

Have you given medical marijuana any thought? A good friend of mine, his mom has had ovarian cancer for 5+ years, and marijuana helped her a lot through her chemo. MJ might counteract the stomach sickness from the Oxycodone, too, so that has a chance to do it's work.

I've also heard that opium is good for pain (which makes since, since opium and morphine both essentially function as endorphin replacements).
posted by Leta at 7:17 PM on August 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Since they're not sure if it's the cancer or the arthritis, what is he doing for the arthritis? I apologize, but I don't know much about prostate cancer; is he able to exercise the arthritic joints, or is his movement too restricted? Gentle exercise is just about the best thing for arthritis. It's really tough when you get started (pain increases), but as you warm up (5-20 mins) you feel *so* much better.

If he is able to exercise and he tries exercising a few times and it does not give him any relief, it's probably not arthritis. From what you're saying, I'd guess that it's not, but maybe it would be useful to him--and the doctors--to have some evidence of that. And maybe relieving the arthritis would help the overall pain in some small way.
posted by galadriel at 7:35 PM on August 11, 2010

IANAD(Y). Echoing what rmhsinc said. Your dad's oncologist should be able to come up with a better pain-management plan, or at the very least let someone with more experience take care of it. There are a lot more mainstream options other than oxycodone, and some are known to be "cleaner" than others with regards to side effects, etc.

If it's more the arthritis, maybe he could look into joint injections? Those work wonders for some people...
posted by greatgefilte at 7:47 PM on August 11, 2010

my mom got a liquid form of oxycontin when she had cancer - I think it's called OxyFast or FastOxy. Anyway, sublingual drops, works crazy fast, great for people with opiate intolerance (like my mom).
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:58 PM on August 11, 2010

OK. Oxycodone is the generic name for Percocet. Oxycontin is just extended-release Percocet (like MS-contin is extended-release morphine sulfate). One of your earlier commenters is correct - if he can't get pain relief from his current doctor, he needs a pain specialist. He might need something more serious like a Fenanyl patch.
posted by shrabster at 8:48 PM on August 11, 2010

And be fenanyl I mean fentanyl.
posted by shrabster at 8:50 PM on August 11, 2010

I thought hydrocodone was percocet. Oops, nope, hydrocodone is vicodin. My bad, sorry.
posted by Leta at 9:25 PM on August 11, 2010

I have friends with severe arthritis who find medical marijuana is the only thing that helps them sleep restfully.
posted by anadem at 11:01 PM on August 11, 2010