Intermittant Pain

My husband (small cell/oat cell lung cancer) has bone mets from the lung cancer.  The last PET (first week of June) showed NO new growth. However, he is pain FREE during the day, but at night the pain comes on with a vegence most of the time in lower back (spine) and or thigh bones.  The doctor said cancer pain is almost always constant and not intermittent like his is.  Has anyone experienced this and if so, what did you do. 

 When these attacks occur, he takes his pain meds and usually in about 30-45 minutes, the pain disipates.  but then he's usually awake half the night from the meds.  Unlike most people who fall asleep taking pain meds, his keep him awake. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  As this also keeps me awake and I can barely function.

I have stage iv small cell lung cancer with bone met. and experience the same situation you are describing with regard to your husband. I wait until the pain starts take take the meds and then take my sleeping pill. This allows me at least solid hours of sleep. I hope this helps

 

On 7/3/2008 madelaine wrote:

I have stage iv small cell lung cancer with bone met. and experience the same situation you are describing with regard to your husband. I wait until the pain starts take take the meds and then take my sleeping pill. This allows me at least solid hours of sleep. I hope this helps

Thank you.  What is your prognosis?  How long have you had the cancer?  What does your doctor say about the pain?  Are you still receiving chemo?  I'd be interested in your progress.  Hope you'll respond. And as with so many, my prayers are with you.

My husband has bone mets from lung ca and was in horrible pain until he had a line put in his neck for iv morphine.  There are no more treatments that will help him so we are just waiting for the ca to hit the next target in his body.  It has been a very hard year so I can relate to how you are feeling.  As for the pain medicine, maybe it could be changed or he could try taking it before the pain starts because it is hard to get on top of the pain once it has started.  My very best to you and your loved one.  Take care.  Margaret

 

On 7/6/2008 Baptist wrote:

My husband has bone mets from lung ca and was in horrible pain until he had a line put in his neck for iv morphine.  There are no more treatments that will help him so we are just waiting for the ca to hit the next target in his body.  It has been a very hard year so I can relate to how you are feeling.  As for the pain medicine, maybe it could be changed or he could try taking it before the pain starts because it is hard to get on top of the pain once it has started.  My very best to you and your loved one.  Take care.  Margaret

Are you sure there is no more treatment options?  Have you checked with perhaps another doctor.  This really freightens me. When was you husband diagnosed with bone mets?  What type of lung cancer does he have.  Oh dear if there is no more treatment, are we also nearing the end?  He had a bad day yesterday, but felt better today.  Yes, he has taken the meds at the start of pain or before it gets worse.  Sometimes that helps, sometimes not.  We're going to call the doctor tomorrow.  It just keeps ringing in my ears that in November the doctor said he only had 6-9 months.  We passed the 6 month mark and now we're approaching the 9 month mark (august).