How to relieve pain in patients with pleural effusion due to lung cancer

Patients with pleural effusion due to lung cancer often experience chest pain due to friction caused by compression of the pleura by the pleural cavity, which stimulates the sensory nerve endings of the pleura. These pains caused by cancer often make patients feel miserable and helpless. What are some good ways to relieve pain for patients with pleural effusion due to lung cancer?

First of all, nursing staff and patients' families should carefully observe the patient's chest pain severity, understand the main causes of chest pain and the nature of the pain, understand the patient's ability to control chest pain and stress level, as well as the location and range of pain.

Secondly, some of the following methods can be taken to help patients relieve pain.

1. The patient should maintain a comfortable position, such as sitting, semi-recumbent or lying on the healthy side.

2. Always pay attention to the patient's condition and avoid severe coughing.

3. Patients should consciously control their breathing, such as closing their eyes and taking deep and slow breaths to allow fresh air to enter the lungs to achieve the purpose of relieving pain.

4. Patients should have a comfortable and quiet living environment, reduce adverse external stimuli, and ensure adequate rest.

5. Patients should avoid strenuous activities or sudden changes in body position in daily life.

6. Family members or caregivers can distract the patient's attention appropriately, such as letting the patient listen to music, read books, or read newspapers, and guide the patient to use alternate methods to relieve pain.

7. If necessary, a certain amount of pleural effusion may be extracted or analgesics may be used, but the effects and reactions after treatment should be closely observed.