It may require interventions, medications, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, life-style management etc. All these options aim to relieve chronic pains thereby improving the functionality and quality of life of patients affected by it.  Pain is also a very common symptom of long-standing organ diseases like cancer, end-stage diseases of heart/lungs/liver/kidneys, degenerative diseases like neuro-muscular dystrophy etc. In these conditions pain may co-exist with other symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness, loss of appetite, bed sores, ascites, disability etc. Many of these long-standing diseases, at times, reach a stage where the medical or surgical options start to become less effective because of various factors. The treating clinician may communicate that the disease has reached a stage where “cure” options are less. In such a scenario, the family is left to “care” for their loved ones. For the patient, it will be a life to live with various physical and psychological symptoms. Their social and spiritual circumstances also change.  

“Palliative Care” is a care-based approach that attempts to reduce chronic suffering. The World Health Organization (W.H.O) has stated that “Palliative Care” is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and that of their families who are facing challenges associated with life-threatening illness, whether physical, psychological, social or spiritual.

Palliative Care encompasses “terminal care” when the course of the disease goes downhill. During this phase, there could be complex changes in the body and mind of the patient, but they are not left alone to cope with their distress. They are provided with safe treatment that addresses their symptoms and helps maintain their dignity and individuality. Palliative care seeks to keep the patient who is in the terminal phase of life, symptom-free and comfortable to the best possible extent. Terminal care also includes care for patients’ loved ones by giving them emotional support especially while taking tough decisions in these situations.

Why Rangadore Memorial Hospital?

Rangadore Memorial Hospital is a philanthropic institution situated in Basavanagudi, South Bangalore, providing quality health care at affordable cost. The Department of Chronic Pain and Palliative Care was started six months ago. In India, only 2% of the population needing Palliative Care have access to it. 

Historically, the philosophy of Palliative Care has existed in the thinking behind the “dammasalas” and “punyasalas” that were built during the reign of King Ashoka. Keeping in alignment with tradition and the global need of humanity today, the Rangadore Memorial Hospital is proud to be one of the access points to the pain and palliative services as a valuable add-on to integrative oncological services it already offers. 

Treatment and Procedures

a. Services:

1. OPD consult for chronic pain conditions
2. OPD consult for Palliative care
3. Counselling for patients with terminal conditions/families facilitating shared decision making
4. Interventions for chronic pain like disc pains, musculoskeletal pains, nerve pains, joint pains
5. Interventions for Palliative Care including terminal care
6. Home care services for terminally ill 

b) Customised treatment & procedures:

1) Medications

2) Collaboration with physiotherapy or physiatry

3) Counselling for life style management, shared decision-making during cancer care or other prolonged end-stage diseases

4) Nerve blocks: trigeminal neuralgias, post herpetic neuralgias, post-surgical neuropathic pains

5) Radio-frequency nerve pulsing or ablations: for recalcitrant nerve pains based on indications

6) Epidurals: neck- thorax-back pains

7) Infusions of analgesic medications: acute pain scenarios

8) Dry Needling: musculoskeletal pains

9) Joint injections: painful joints of degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis, arthritis

(The above interventions are performed under C arm or USG guidance)