Pain and palliative care are essential components of healthcare. They help to improve the quality of life for patients who are living with chronic pain or who are facing a life-limiting illness.

Pain Management

Pain management is the process of relieving pain and improving the patient's function and quality of life. There are many different pain management techniques, including:

• Medication: Medications are the most common way to manage pain. There are many different types of pain medications available, and the best type of medication for a particular patient will depend on the cause of the pain and the patient's individual needs. 
• Non-drug therapies: There are also many non-drug therapies that can be used to manage pain, such as:
  • Heat therapy: Applying heat to the affected area can help to relieve pain and muscle spasms.
  • Cold therapy: Applying cold to the affected area can also help to relieve pain and inflammation.
  • Massage therapy: Massage therapy can help to relax muscles and reduce pain.
  • Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves inserting needles into specific points on the body. Acupuncture can be effective in relieving pain for some people.
  • Yoga: Yoga is a mind-body practice that can help to reduce stress and improve pain tolerance.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is a specialized type of care that focuses on relieving pain and suffering for patients who are living with a serious illness. Palliative care can be provided alongside other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy.

The goal of palliative care is to improve the patient's quality of life, not to cure the illness. Palliative care can help patients to:

• Manage their pain and other symptoms.
• Live as actively as possible.
• Make informed decisions about their care.
• Prepare for death and dying.

Palliative care can provide direct support by providing relief from distressing symptoms, such as:

• Pain
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Problems with sleep

Pain and Palliative care is designed to:

• Relieve from pain and other distressing symptoms.
• Integrate the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care.
• Enhance the quality of life and positively influence the course of illness.
• Offer a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death and to help the family cope during the patient's illness.
• Emphatically ensure that dying is a normal process
• Use a team approach to address the patient’s needs including bereavement counselling if needed.

Pain & Palliative Care at Sterling Hospitals Sindhu Bhavan

Sterling Hospitals Sindhu Bhavan offers a comprehensive pain and palliative care program that is designed to meet the needs of patients and their families. The program is led by a team of experienced doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who are dedicated to providing compassionate and quality care.

The pain and palliative care program at Sterling Hospitals Sindhu Bhavan offers a wide range of services, including:

• Pain assessment and management.
• Palliative care consults.
• Pain and symptom management education.
• Support groups for patients and families.
• End-of-life care.

If you are a patient who is living with pain or who is facing a life-limiting illness, the pain and palliative care program at Sterling Hospitals Sindhu Bhavan can help you to improve your quality of life.