Life Before Death: Total Pain and Mental Health

Medscape

Editor's Note: Life Before Death is a documentary film series that focuses on palliative care and pain management, highlighting patients and health professionals from around the world. Medscape is republishing some of these films in partnership with San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine and Moonshine Movies. 
 
Dr. Natalya Dinat: There's a very complex interaction between the psyche and emotions and physical pain, and we're beginning to demonstrate that suffering and physical pain are related in a very complex manner. So, if we understand and accept that, then we are able to treat the physical pain in a much more effective way.
Professor Michael Cousins: Obviously, if you still have tissue damage after an operation or trauma, you're going to have some pain, but the pain won't only be due to the tissue damage.
Dr. Kathleen Foley: For example, [consider] a postoperative surgical patient who has had the diagnosis of cancer made. The surgeon comes in and tells the patient, "I took out all of the tumor, the margins are negative, and you're cured." That patient will say, "I'm in overwhelming pain and I'm not suffering."...........