ABSTRACT

This chapter considers all the patient's symptoms and all the information available to doctors and assesses the symptoms, signs and information given using this to choose the appropriate remedies for the problem and offers extra information where available and appropriate. Up to 40% of cancer patients experience neuropathic pain, which is pain that is transmitted by a damaged nerve system and is only partially responsive to opioids. It is difficult to treat, and more than one drug may be required to bring it under control. Neuropathic pain can be difficult to manage, and in order to ensure best compliance, it is always good practice to talk to the patient about the nature of neuropathic pain and to explain how it responds poorly to conventional painkillers, and that it may be necessary to try different therapies before an effective treatment is found.