Cancer Pain Management and Relief

Cancer pain affects more than just the body. It can disrupt sleep, limit movement, and interfere with peace of mind, independence, and meaningful connection. Whether you are living with cancer or navigating survivorship, effective pain management can play an important role in maintaining quality of life.

Interventional Pain Specialists at CLS Health work closely with oncologists, palliative care teams, and referring physicians to help patients manage complex cancer-related pain. Our goal is to provide relief, preserve dignity, and support daily comfort through personalized, evidence-based care.

Cancer-related pain can develop for many reasons, including the cancer itself, cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or changes in the body after treatment.

Common causes and pain conditions include:

Tumor pressure on nerves, bones, or internal organs
Bone metastases, spine pain, or spinal compression fractures
Post-surgical nerve pain, including pain after tumor removal, mastectomy, or breast reconstruction
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
Radiation-related tissue or nerve irritation
Pelvic, abdominal, or visceral pain from internal organ involvement
Cancer-related complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
Pain related to scar tissue or adhesions from prior cancer treatment
Phantom limb pain after oncologic amputation

Your initial visit includes a thoughtful consultation and personalized evaluation. Depending on your symptoms and medical history, your provider may:

Review your cancer diagnosis, treatment history, and current symptoms
Perform a detailed physical and neurological exam
Order imaging such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI when needed
Use diagnostic nerve blocks to help confirm the pain source
Collaborate with your oncology or palliative care team to support coordinated care

This process helps us build a treatment plan that prioritizes comfort, safety, function, and your long-term goals.

Treatment depends on the cause of your pain, your cancer history, your current treatment plan, and your personal goals. Some patients benefit from targeted injections, while others may need advanced therapies for more persistent nerve-related pain.

Joint, Muscle & Soft Tissue Pain

Trigger Point Injections: Used to relieve muscle tension, myofascial pain, or localized spasms that may develop after surgery, treatment, or extended periods of immobility.

Joint or Bursa Injections: May help with secondary joint or soft tissue pain caused by postural changes, inflammation, or reduced activity during cancer treatment or recovery.

Spine & Nerve Pain

Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI): May reduce nerve inflammation when tumors, spinal narrowing, or vertebral compression affect the spinal canal.

Facet Joint Injections or Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): May help treat spine-related pain caused by degenerative changes, instability, or irritation involving the small joints of the spine.

Kyphoplasty: Helps stabilize compression fractures from metastatic bone disease, which may reduce pain and improve mobility.

Peripheral Nerve Blocks: Provide temporary pain relief by interrupting specific nerve pathways affected by cancer, surgery, radiation, or other treatments.

Advanced Pain Management and Implantable Therapies

Intrathecal Pain Pump: Delivers pain medication directly near the spinal cord, allowing stronger pain relief with lower medication doses than some oral medications. This may be considered for patients with severe or difficult-to-control cancer pain.

Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS): Helps manage certain types of nerve-related pain that persist after surgery, radiation, or other cancer treatments. This option is typically considered for patients with longer-term pain management goals.

Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation: Targets focused nerve pain in specific areas affected by surgery, tumor removal, radiation, or scarring. This may be most appropriate for patients with stable symptoms and a stable prognosis.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulator (PNS): Treats ongoing nerve pain in specific areas affected by cancer treatment or surgery. For example, intercostal nerve PNS may be considered for persistent chest wall or breast-area nerve pain after mastectomy or breast reconstruction.

Sympathetic Nerve Blocks: May help manage certain pain syndromes, including CRPS or pain related to abdominal or pelvic nerve pathways.

StimRouter Implantation: A minimally invasive implant option that targets peripheral nerve pain in eligible patients.

Compassionate, Personalized Care for Cancer Pain

Cancer-related pain can change over time, especially during treatment, recovery, or survivorship. Our pain specialists tailor care to your diagnosis, symptoms, treatment stage, and personal goals.

We coordinate closely with your oncology or palliative care team to help support comfort, mobility, and quality of life.

Talk to a Pain Specialist

You do not have to manage cancer-related pain on your own. Our pain specialists will guide you through a one-on-one evaluation and create a plan designed to support your comfort, mobility, and overall well-being.

We coordinate closely with your oncology and palliative care teams and offer appointment times that work with your treatment schedule.

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