Cancer Pain Management: You Don't Have to Suffer

Cancer pain is among the most undertreated conditions in medicine. Studies consistently show that 30–50% of cancer patients report inadequate pain control — not because effective treatments don't exist, but because they aren't being offered, or patients and families don't know to ask.

As a pain management specialist, I work with oncologists throughout Nassau County and Long Island to ensure cancer patients have access to the full spectrum of pain management options — well beyond just escalating opioid doses.

The Reality of Cancer Pain

Cancer causes pain through multiple mechanisms: direct tumor invasion of nerves and tissues, bone metastases, visceral organ involvement, treatment side effects (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation), and secondary musculoskeletal pain from altered movement.

Each of these has specific interventional approaches that can dramatically reduce pain — and reduce the amount of opioid medication needed.

Interventional Options for Cancer Pain

Celiac Plexus Block / Neurolysis

For patients with pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, or other upper abdominal malignancies causing severe visceral pain, a celiac plexus neurolysis (using alcohol or phenol to permanently ablate the nerve plexus) can dramatically reduce pain — often allowing significant opioid dose reduction within days of the procedure. Pain scores often drop 4–6 points on a 10-point scale.

This single procedure can transform a patient's last months from opioid-sedated suffering to meaningful engagement with family and life.

Hypogastric Plexus Block

For pelvic cancer pain (cervical, uterine, ovarian, prostate, rectal), hypogastric plexus neurolysis targets the nerve network transmitting pelvic cancer pain — providing relief while reducing opioid requirements.

Intrathecal Drug Delivery Pumps

An intrathecal (IT) pump delivers morphine or ziconotide directly into the spinal fluid — achieving equivalent or superior pain control at 1/300th of the oral dose. This dramatically reduces systemic opioid side effects: constipation, cognitive fog, sedation.

For patients who need escalating oral opioid doses and suffering from side effects, an IT pump can be life-changing.

Vertebroplasty / Kyphoplasty (via referral)

For patients with painful vertebral compression fractures from bone metastases or steroid-related osteoporosis, vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty (cement injection into the collapsed vertebra) can provide immediate pain relief.

Ketamine Infusion

For severe cancer-related pain with opioid tolerance or hyperalgesia (where opioids are making pain worse), ketamine infusion therapy can reset pain pathways and restore opioid sensitivity.

Coordinating with Your Oncology Team

I work closely with oncologists, palliative care teams, and primary care physicians to ensure integrated cancer pain management. A referral from your oncologist or a direct call to our office is all that's needed to begin.

If you or a loved one has cancer pain that isn't being adequately controlled, please call 516-492-3100. There are options.