Guidelines For Severe Cancer Pain Guidelines For Severe Cancer Pain Severe Pain is usually present in a continuous fashion. This asks the patient to endure pain until it reaches an intolerable level before analgesics are given. Pain control is best achieved with a regular schedule by the clock. Rescue or Bolus doses of anagestics should be given in between the regular schedule as needed for continuous relief.
Oral administration is the best route of relief for severe pain.
The analgestic levels produced by oral morphine are a continuous and level degree of pain control. When the oral route is not available subcutaneous infusions can give a similar degree of relief. Intermuscular administration has many disadvantages including pain at the injection site, short duration of action and a brief rush of relief followed by a trough of return pain. Tradition and custom are strong factors in life and medicine. The individual is expected to be strong and endure pain.