Pain & Palliative Care
The department of Pain and Palliative Care at Narayana Health addresses physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of symptoms .
Palliative care is an approach to improve the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing such life-threatening diseases. Pain & Palliative care services are designed to focus on the active total care of the person suffering from both cancerous & non-cancerous advanced diseases to.prevent and relieve the patient from both physical pain and psychological problems through early identification and assessment. It includes various investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications to provide complete & holistic care to improve quality of life. Pain and Palliative care is designed to:
- Relieve from pain and other distressing symptoms.
- Integrate the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care.
- Enhance the quality of life and positively influence the course of illness.
- Offer a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death and to help the family cope during the patient's illness.
- Emphatically ensure that dying is a normal process
- Use a team approach to address the patient’s needs including bereavement counselling if needed.
Pain & Palliative Care
Do not quit, get what you deserve- pain and symptom-free happy life
Pain Palliation is applicable early in the illness with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Palliative care is an approach to address the person as a whole and not just their disease.
We carefully and extensively study your symptoms to relieve you of any pain and health issues so that you can start living a healthy, normal, and productive life again. We prefer to use a least-invasive and comprehensive way to reduce your troubles in a non-surgical method. Our skilled and empathic team ensures that you live the best possible life with your near and dear ones, in a daycare setting.
Why Narayana Health for Palliative Care?
Pain is the most common and dreaded symptom in cancer patients. Narayana Health ensures that patients who have pain are identified as soon as possible and treated appropriately and effectively. We also deal with the psychological, spiritual, social, and occupational distress in patients - as they may lead to increased perception of physical pain.
Narayana Health's multidisciplinary team of palliative care specialists has received special training and/or certification in palliative care. We provide holistic care to the patient and their families by focusing on their physical, emotional, and social issues faced during the cancer experience. Our palliative care hospital unit includes doctors, nurses, registered dieticians, pharmacists, and psychologists. The palliative care team at Narayana Health works concurrently with the oncology team to manage your care and maintain the best possible quality of life.
Palliative care can provide direct support by providing relief from distressing symptoms, such as:
- Pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Problems with sleep
What Services Are Offered?
Palliative care is provided along the cancer care continuum, from diagnosis to treatment and recovery. Palliative care specialists also facilitate communication among members of the medical team and help with discussions focusing on the goals of the patient's wellbeing.
A chronic disease like Cancer affects the person not only physically but also emotionally and the effects differ from person to person. Pain Palliative measures are designed to address a broad range of issues and to integrate an individual’s specific needs into care.
The following services are offered in our hospital facilities for effective palliative management for disease-related aches:
- Consultation through physical examination and video for management of pain.
- Physiotherapy and practical guidance for exercises from our skilled personnel
- Interventional facility for pain management
- Modification of Lifestyle.
What are the symptoms of terminal illnesses requiring palliative care?
Life-threatening illnesses can be treated in the non-invasive or stationary stages, where the disease has not yet spread to the other parts of the body. In these stages, it is possible to treat the patients using non-inflammatory pharmaceutical agents, invasive surgical procedures if needed. However, because of the genetic nature of certain terminal illnesses like cancer, it is always possible for the disease to return – in one word, it cannot be said for certain that the disease has been permanently cured.
If the disease is not detected in time, then it can metastasize and spread to other parts of the body. In the advanced stages, it is not possible to completely cure the diseases anymore, but take steps to ensure the extension of life, reduction of pain, and arranging for a healthy and fulfilling environment. The common problems a patient with terminal diseases experiences are listed below:
Physical Pain
Palliative care helps with physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and insomnia. The patients are always encouraged to address pain, if any, as pain should be treated right away.
Our department goes to the root cause and provides the appropriate medical care for the following type of pain complaints:
- Arthritis or joint pain in knee and shoulders
- Backaches
- Atypical facial pain, Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Fibromyalgia / Myofascial/ Musculoskeletal pain
- Headaches
- Failed back surgery syndrome
- Pain in the neck or shoulders
- Agony due to Cancer
- CPRS I & II
- Pelvic and abdominal pain
- Herniated Disc
- Sciatica (Searing Pain from Back to legs)
- Sports Injuries
For most pain problems, medicines like a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) helps. If pain continues or gets worse, a weak opioid medicine, like hydrocodone is prescribed. In case of severe and unbearable pain, Doctors might prescribe strong opioids like morphine and fentanyl.
Emotional Distress
With the help of various resources, Palliative care specialists can provide help to deal with the emotions that come with a cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment. Fear, anxiety, and depression are only to name a few of the concerns that are taken care of through palliative care.
Terminal diseases are painful and depressing that affect the mind as well as the body itself. In addition to chemotherapy, the continuous stress and the thought of the imminent end produces several symptoms in the patient. We provide the utmost care and in-depth examination and treatment for the following symptoms in tour patients:
- Loss of Desire for food.
- Comprehensive Feebleness/ Exhaustion
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Loss of Sleep/ Insomnia
- Breathing Struggle
- Continuous and Chronic Cough
Caregiver Needs
The caregiver or family members are an important part of cancer treatment. Like the patient, they also face challenges. Family members become overwhelmed by the extra responsibilities due to caregiving. Many find it hard to cope with a sick relative while trying to handle other obligations, such as household chores and duties, professions, and caring for the patient.
Often the person taking care of a patient inundated himself with inadequate social support, and uncertainty about how to help their loved one in such illness. Worry and fear add up to their stress. Such stress can deteriorate their own health. Palliative care specialists help families and friends to cope up and provide them with the support they need.
Social Responsibilities
Palliative care specialists also assist the patient with their insurance questions, financial and legal worries, and employment concerns. They discuss advance directives and facilitate communication among family members, caregivers, and members of the oncology care team to set a goal towards the patient's wellbeing.
Children’s Palliative Care
Palliative care for children is a closely related field to adult palliative care. Children’s palliative care focuses on the enhancement of quality of life for the child and support for the whole family. The care includes stress management, symptom management with a provision of respite care.
Symptom management controls the physical aspects of symptoms combined with attention to the psychosocial effects of the symptoms. Respite care helps relieve the family of the burden of care by providing caregiving support in the home or an alternative community environment such as a children’s hospice.
