How Can I Help Pain Related to PleurxDrainage
11/18/2011 |
Question:
Hello. My Mother is a lung cancer patient who has Pleurx drains bilaterally for recurrent pleural effusions.
Immediately and for some time (days-weeks) after being drained, she has had excruciating pain. Now, she is having the pain radiate to her neck and even to her teeth. Tramadol is not helping. Is this a common occurrence, and does she need a nerve pain med like Lyrica, gabapentine, etc?
Her docs don`t seem to be clear on what the cause is. They have started an infection work-up, and placed her on PO Levaquin. Any ideas on what would help? Thanks.
Answer:
People can have pain after drainage, but that severe pain isn’t common. Her doctor would need to make sure there isn’t a problem with the catheter before starting other medications.
For more information:
Go to the Lung Cancer health topic.