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Signs that pain is out-of-control?

Page last modified on: September 19, 2008

Question from Rita: What signs indicate pain is out-of-control?: Answers —Michelle Rhiner, N.P.: Every person with pain can identify a pain intensity score that s/he feels is acceptable. By "acceptable," I mean this pain intensity does not interfere with normal daily activities or quality of life.

If you feel that your quality of life is affected—you're no longer able to be active, you no longer enjoy life, you feel sadness or anxiety, and you have decreased functioning—then you know that things are out-of-control. It can be the physical pain out-of-control or the emotional component of the pain that's also out-of-control and needs to be addressed.; Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: Sometimes we need permission to talk freely about just how much pain we're experiencing. Working with a doctor and nurse and other provider you trust can give you that permission. It can take a great deal of strength to admit that you're in pain.

On Wednesday, January 21, 2004, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Pain Management: Getting the Relief YOU Need. Neal Slatkin, M.D., Michelle Rhiner, N.P. and moderator Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions about the best ways to deal with the physical pain and discomforts associated with breast cancer and breast cancer treatment.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Neal Slatkin, M.D. is director of supportive care services and associate professor in the department of neurology at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, California.

Michelle Rhiner, N.P. is patient coordinator and department manager in the department of supportive care and palliative medicine at the City of Hope Cancer Center.

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.