Pain is always subjective and the perception of pain may be modified by problems or influences related to other physical or psychosocial causes of suffering
Pain caused by the disease or treatment is modified by these influences, making it either better or worse, resulting in the final clinical pain, which is what the patient says it is, and what has to be treated
The table lists examples of factors that might aggravate pain. Relief or successful management may have the opposite effect and improve pain.
Interaction of Pain and the Other Causes of Suffering
Pain can cause or aggravate problems related to other causes of suffering—other physical symptoms, psychological problems, social difficulties, cultural issues, or spiritual/existential concerns
☛ in this situation, pain has to be controlled before psychosocial problems can be addressed
↳ it is not possible to have meaningful discussions about psychosocial concerns if a patient has uncontrolled pain
☛ alternatively, pain can be caused or aggravated by psychosocial concerns
☛ in this situation, the psychosocial concerns must be addressed before good pain control can be achieved
↳ where psychosocial or spiritual problems are causing or aggravating pain, no amount of well-prescribed analgesia will relieve the pain until the responsible psychosocial issues are identified and addressed
↳
Source:
The IAHPC Manual of Palliative Care 3rd Edition
https://web.archive.org/web/20210122105526/https://hospicecare.com/uploads/2013/9/The%20IAHPC%20Manual%20of%20Palliative%20Care%203e.pdf
