TREATMENT OF SEVERE PAIN
IN CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Pain in chronic pancreatitis

The pain that develops in chronic pancreatitis is often severe, chronic (present all the time), often aggravated by meals and may be present continuously including at night. In some patient the pain is so severe that they develop a fear for eating and as a consequence lose significant amounts of weight.

The pain may begin gradually initially however in many patients over time develop continuous pain. The pain is usually worse in the back rather than in the front of the abdomen. The severity of the pain makes many patients into pain cripples. The severity of the pain with meals may lead to avoidance of food, causing severe weight loss and malnutrition.

Team approach to treatment of pain

Treatment of pain requires familiarity with the patient’s disease an understanding of wide variation in presentation and manifestation of chronic pancreatitis and knowledge of the different treatment options available, their advantages and disadvantages.

Treatment is best provided in a center where experienced physicians from different specialties provide comprehensives approach to the care of the patient and there is coordination of care between the different specialties.

USC treatment protocol

At USC we offer a comprehensive approach to pain from pancreatic disease with clinical evaluation by a pain management specialist, pancreatic surgeon, gastroenterologist and a psychologist as indicated. Many patients also require may require treatment in a rehabilitation program prior to or after the surgery for drug dependency. The drug dependency develops to narcotic drugs due to years of over usage prior to a surgical consult in many patients.

The treatments for the pain offered at USC include:

• Medical drug therapy with pain medications, pancreatic enzymes and sandostatin
• Interventional endoscopic procedures such as pancreatic duct stents
• Celiac nerve block
• Surgery for chronic pancreatitis

Contact information: USC Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases
1510 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323-4425837 dde-mail:PancreasDiseases@surgery.usc.edu
Programs: pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, laparoscopic surgery, endocrine surgery,
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This web site provides select information about pancreatic and biliary disorders and is updated twice monthly. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical consultation with your physician.It is important that you consult with your physician for detailed information about your medical condition and treatment.The center will make every effort to update the site, however, past performance is no guarantee of future medical outcomes.
Copyright © 2002 USC Center for pancreatic and biliary diseases. All rights reserved.