The importance of pain and symptom management in palliative care

Many people associate, “palliative care” with “end-of-life care,” but that’s only one aspect. Pain and symptom management also play a vital part.

Pain and symptom management is provided to all palliative care patients including those managing life-limiting illnesses which could be a chronic disease like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or conditions like cancer, ALS, stroke, etc. Even though a life-limiting disease is progressive, patients can lead active lives for many years after diagnosis.

“When pain and symptom management is involved early in the treatment of life-limiting illness, it makes a positive difference for the patient,” said Lynette Sawchuk, palliative care program manager in Nova Scotia Health’s Eastern Zone. “They can come in and out of the palliative care program as needed. We treat their symptoms and when stabilized, they can be discharged from the program and go back to living their lives.”

In 2008, the An Cala palliative care unit opened at Cape Breton Regional Hospital. It provides pain and symptom management to patients with lifelimiting illness, complex palliative care needs and end-of-life patients who do not meet provincial hospice criteria. Patients have access to all palliative care resources including social work, volunteers, music therapy, bereavement services, etc. As well, the Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton County and Nova Scotia Health are partnering on refreshing the unit, so it continues to be a home-like place of comfort for patients and their families.

“It’s all about quality of life,” said Sawchuk. “When you combine well-managed symptoms and good palliative care, there’s greater quality of life for the patient. That means more time for precious moments with loved ones.

If pain and symptoms are not managed, you lose those precious moments.”

PHOTO: Ronalda Macdonald, hospital consult nurse with palliative care, prepares a CADD pain pump in the An Cala medication room.