At the Annie Appleseed Project we are strong on using hands-on to relieve pain. Think about how massaging one's temples can help during a headache. If nothing else, it can be a loving touch for someone whose every other touch is either impersonal or painful. Gently massage the hands and feet. Here is what LM said about it: " Your suggestion of massaging soles and palms worked very well for my husband. I recall Monday at Hospice when they got him dressed for his palliative radiation. They didn't give him morphine before, and he was writhing in pain, worse than I ever saw. The doctor, several nurses and techs were around his bed watching like he was a specimen. I made my way to the foot of the bed without time to grab the cream. I rubbed the soles, saying shhhhh. Then I did the palms, again saying shhhh. His body visibly relaxed, and he stopped writhing. They looked at me like I was a witch. After that they made sure he had morphine and Ativan, but I still massaged his feet and his hands because he seemed to like it". Recently a friend of Ann's was in the hospital after suffering kidney failure (4 intensive chemo treatment days) and undergoing dialysis every other day. She was semi-conscious at best. BUT she remembers, now that she is awake and alert again, being treated like "a sack of potatoes". That impersonal touch used in hospital, particularly with people who are unaware, is horrid. It is probably necessary but for the one experiencing it, it sure doesn't make anything better. JCO, May 2001 Adverse Effects & Too Little Meds Hurt Pts Paradox of Pain Control-Morphine Effectiveness Morphine Stimulates Tumor Growth in Mice Opioid Analgesics Promote Tumor Growth Methodone Vs Morphine Morphine treatment accelerates sarcoma-induced bone pain (MICE) J Clinical Oncology,4/01 Guidelines to Help Pts Assess /Talk about Pain Factors w/Accuracy of Family Caregiver Estimates Children's Pain: Acupuncture, Oral Meds, Yoga, Etc. Pain Control Depends on Care & Meds If interested in participating, contact the people on this page, 12/03 Lancet Oncology, June 2001 BMJ, 9/01 Chronic Pain & Breast Surgery Massage Therapy for Chronic Pain J Pain & Symptom Mgement, 1/02 Cancer Nursing, May 2001 Oncology Nurses' Use of Nondrug Pain Interventions in Practice New York Times, 3/26/02 Natural Painkiller May be Less Addictive Nonpharmacologic Management of Pain: Nursing View PAIN: Max Gerson, MD Randomized Controlled Trial: Magnetic Bracelets for Pain TCM Reduces Brain Reactivity to Pain Bach Flower Remedies for Pain Pain Reduction: capsaicin, a drug derived from chili peppers Spirulina extract may reverse pain sensitivity (Animal study) For breast cancer patients and pain questions-answers given MedscapeWire, 5/02 Intl Study BBC News, 9/03 LINK to Cancer Supportive Care site handout Zentralbl Gynakol, 1/02 JAMA, 1/04 JAMA, 3/04 2nd Joint Sci Meeting of NA Pain Soc/ Canadian Pain Soc, 5/04 www.natural-oncology.org Washington Post article, October 21, 2004 National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Responds Oncology, 9/04 A study of minority neighborhoods in NYC 4/00 and survey of doctors, 6/00 A Physician Survey on Pain Do Gender and Race Affect Decisions About Pain Management?. Cancer Pain Pediatrics, 4/00 Acupuncture & Pain J Clinical Oncology, 11/07 Electroacupuncture & bone cancer pain (rats) American Pain Monitor, November 2007 European Journal of Pain, August 2008 Lancet Neurology, October 2008 LINK to site "coalition of organizations, including leading advocacy groups, focusing on increasing awareness and improving understanding of pain management". Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.