South_agency / Getty Images
What Is Breakthrough Pain?
There are various types of pain.Acute pain most often occurs immediately after an injury.
It is usually intense but typically improves as the injury heals.
South_agency / Getty Images
Chronic painis pain that has been present for at least three months.
It can come on gradually or quickly, and ranges in severity.
Chronic pain is common in long-standing medical conditions, such as cancer or arthritis.
Healthcare providers often prescribe long-term pain medications to manage chronic pain.
Breakthrough pain can have a trigger or occur randomly.
Other characteristics of breakthrough pain can include:
Who Gets Breakthrough Pain?
It can also occur from spasms of internal organs, such as the intestines.
Breakthrough pain can be due to procedures and treatments used to treat chronic illnesses.
Examples include:
The side effects of the underlying chronic medical condition can also cause breakthrough pain.
These drugs are typically fast-acting and short-lasting and are designed to treat the characteristics of breakthrough pain.
Eventually, it can also lead to physical disability and make activities of daily living difficult.
You don’t have to live with your current level of pain.
Talk to a healthcare provider about your pain to learn of available treatment options.
Summary
Breakthrough pain occurs in people living with chronic medical conditions.
These individuals typically take medications that manage their baseline pain.
However, sometimes pain can still break through current treatment.
Triggers for breakthrough pain include certain movements, illness, testing procedures, or surgery.
Sometimes, it occurs without an apparent reason.
Breakthrough pain can be treated with over-the-counter medications or prescription opioids.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About chronic diseases.
National Cancer Institute.Breakthrough pain.
National Cancer Institute.Pain management.
Rudowska J.Management of breakthrough pain due to cancer.Contemp Oncol (Pozn).
2012;16(6):498-501. doi:10.5114%2Fwo.2012.32481
National Cancer Institute.Cancer pain (PDQ)patient version.
2013;11(suppl_1):S-S-36.
2021;12(2):188-201. doi:10.6004%2Fjadpro.2021.12.2.6
