Referred and radiating pain: Information for clinicians

This advice is sourced from Dr Ros Taylor a senior palliative physician

Referred pain- pain felt at site remote from site of painful stimulus

Radiating pain -pain felt at site of painful stimulus but spreads elsewhere

Q. What patterns of referred pain do you commonly see in palliative illness?

A. Frequently we see referred pain from spinal metastases causing sciatic pain down the leg.

Arm pain from brachial plexus involvement in breast and lung cancer is also very common.

Liver and gall badder pain refer to the right shoulder. 

Pain from pancreatic disease can be felt in the mid back, as well as the epigastrium.

Head and neck cancers often cause severe referred pain to the face and ear.

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Cancer services

Cancer Black Care
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Cancer Black Care

T. 0734 047 1970

W. https://www.cancerblackcare.org.uk/

Provides support for all those living with and affected by cancer, with an emphasis on Black people and people of colour. 

Macmillan Cancer Support
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Macmillan provide cancer information, support and help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can.

Visit the website to get help with paying bills, advice on benefits or treatment, or to just chat.

Maggie’s
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Maggie’s

T. 0300 123 1801

W. https://www.maggies.org/

Maggie's has a network of centres in many locations throughout the UK. It provides free information about cancer, financial benefts and offers emotional and social support to people with cancer, as well as their family, and friends.

Marie Curie
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Marie Curie

T. 0800 090 2309

W. https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/

Marie Curie provide support for patients and carers through terminal illness.

Find information and support through the telephone helpline and online chat via their website.

Other services include Marie Curie nurses, Hospice care, helper and companion services.

OUTpatients
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A safe space for anybody who identifes as LGBTIQ+ and has had an experience with any kind of cancer at any stage. Also produces resources about LGBT cancer experiences. 

Teenage Cancer Trust
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Teenage Cancer Trust

T. 020 7612 0370

W. https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/

A UK-wide charity devoted to improving the lives of teenagers and young adults with cancer. There is a support network for young people with cancer, their friends and families. 

Young lives vs Cancer
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Young lives vs Cancer

W. https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/

Young lives vs Cancer support young people under 25 with cancer, and their families, to get the help they need during their cancer treatment and beyond, including bereaved families living with emotional distress. 

Palliative care teams

Community Palliative Care Team - based at Meadow House Hospice
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Community Palliative Care Team - based at Meadow House Hospice

T. 020 8967 5179

W. https://www.lnwh.nhs.uk/meadow-house-hospice/#community-palliative-care-team

The Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurse Team provides advice and visiting to palliative care patients in Ealing and Hounslow. The team are based at Meadow House Hospice.

The team will visit patients with progressive life limiting illness in their own homes. They provide specialist advice around pain and symptom control and support for patients, their families, and carers during the last stages of illness. They also support patients wishing to die at home through coordination with GPs and hospital teams.

The team is comprised of medical consultants, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, a bereavement support officer and a patient and carer advocacy worker

The team can be contacted for referrals Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Between Monday to Friday 5.00pm and 8.30am, the Out of Hours Telephone Advice line 020 8102 5000 takes calls. Weekends and Bank Holidays 5.00pm to 9.00am.

Referral form for clinician use only.

Community Specialist Palliative Care Referral Form V4.2 (DOCX)
District Nurses Hounslow
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District Nurse referrals can be made Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.

District Nurses Night Service Hounslow
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Referrals to the night service can be made Monday to Sunday 5.00pm to 7.00am.

Meadow House Hospice Inpatient Unit
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Meadow House Hospice Inpatient Unit

T. 0208 967 5179

W. http://meadowhouse.lnwh.nhs.uk

Meadow House Hospice provides inpatient palliative care services to the residents of Ealing.

The hospice has a 15 bedded inpatient unit supported by a team of dedicated staff providing 24/7 specialist support to patients and their family members. Patients with a progressive life limiting illness can be admitted for symptom management or end of life care.

Patients have a safe, dignified space of their own and the flexibility to spend time alone or in company, surrounded by their possessions and the people they care about. The hospice also has an extensive garden area that provides a quiet and reflective environment for both patients and family members.

Please contact the hospice Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm and during the weekend 9.00am to 5.00pm on 0208 242 5817.

There is a 24 hour telephone support line to the hospice ward on 0208 967 5597.

Bereavement services to support family members, friends and carers connected to a loved one who was cared for by the Hospice, can be contacted via main switchboard.  

Referral form for clinician use only.

Community Specialist Palliative Care Referral Form V4.2 (DOCX)
Planned Night End of Life Care
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Planned Night End of Life Care

T. 0203 370 2208

This is an overnight service and is provided by Marie Curie via Meadow House Hospice for residents of Ealing and Hounslow. This service provides one to one overnight nursing support, symptom control, management of pain, emotional and practical support for patients in their last few weeks of life.

Referrals are made via Local Clinical Coordination Centre Monday to Sunday from 10.00pm to 7.00am.

Marie Curie Planned Night Services Referral Form (DOCX)

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