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Pancreatitis

PAIN CONDITION

Pancreatitis: Causes, Treatment & Pain Relief

Pancreatitis is characterized by long-term inflammation that causes permanent damage to the pancreas.[1] In 2021, approximately 2.75 million people globally were diagnosed with pancreatitis.[2] Severe stomach pain due to pancreatitis can be unbearable, disrupting every aspect of life. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), now known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a chronic pain condition that often develops after an injury, surgery or medical event.[1] RSD goes beyond normal healing pain—it’s an overreaction by the body’s sympathetic nervous system that causes severe pain in one or more limbs.[1]

About Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It can be acute (sudden onset that resolves quickly) or chronic (developing and worsening over time). Chronic pancreatitis can have recurring attacks and require management to reduce symptoms and complications. The inflammation permanently damages the pancreas, affecting its function and ability to produce essential enzymes and insulin.[3].

The pancreas is a small organ behind the stomach that produces enzymes for digestion and hormones, like insulin and glucagon, that regulate blood sugar and appetite.[1] More men than women develop pancreatitis.[4] The condition can be hereditary but is often caused by gallstones or alcohol abuse.[4] In some cases, the immune system attacks the healthy tissue of the pancreas.[1]

Pancreatitis Symptoms

The symptoms of pancreatitis vary depending on whether it’s acute or chronic, but common signs, according to the experts at John Hopkins Medicine, include:

  • Severe belly pain that may spread to your back or chest
  • Pain that worsens after eating
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fast heart rate
  • Fever
  • Swelling or tenderness in the upper belly
  • Abdominal fluid build-up
  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

Other symptoms, according to NIDDK, usually associated with chronic pancreatitis include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Greasy, foul-smelling stools
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss

Pancreatitis Causes

Pancreas inflammation and abdominal pain have numerous causes, with the most common being gallstones and heavy alcohol use. Sometimes, the cause of pancreatitis itself isn’t clear, and then it is referred to as idiopathic pancreatitis.[5]

Pancreatitis can be caused by the following:

  • Gallstones [3]
  • Heavy drinking [3]
  • Cigarette smoking [3]
  • High levels of blood calcium [3]
  • Infections such as mumps, hepatitis, or salmonella [3]
  • Pancreas injury or trauma [3]
  • Family history of pancreatitis [4] genetic mutations PRSS1, R122H, R122C, N29I, A16V, CTRC, SPINK1, CFTR, CASR, CPA1, PRSS2, and CLDN2 [4]
  • Lupus [4]
  • Cystic fibrosis [4]
  • Reye’s syndrome [4]
  • High triglycerides [4]
  • Crohn’s disease [4]

Pancreatitis Pain Management Treatments

The damage caused by long-term pancreas inflammation is permanent, but treatment can help control the condition and manage symptoms, including painful attacks. The first course of action is to make lifestyle modifications such as:

  • No drinking
  • No smoking
  • Take enzyme supplements
  • Follow a pancreatitis diet (avoid refined carbs, fried or fatty foods)
  • Maintain a healthy weight

Pain due to pancreatitis may respond to medications such as steroids for inflammation, prescription and OTC pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).[6]

For pancreatitis-related pain that hasn’t responded to conventional treatments, minimally invasive interventional pain management procedures may help reduce reliance on medication, avoid surgery and provide relief. Along with treatment for your pancreas’s reduced function, pain specialists can address chronic pancreatitis pain and nausea with the following approaches:

  • Celiac plexus nerve block
  • Trigger point injections
  • Nerve blocks
  • Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
  • Epidural steroid injections
  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
  • Intrathecal drug delivery systems (pain pumps)

When to Consult a Pancreatitis Pain Care Specialist

If you’re experiencing persistent or severe abdominal pain, frequent episodes of pancreatitis, or difficulty managing symptoms, it’s time to consult a specialist. Pain management doctors can offer personalized solutions to ease discomfort and improve overall well-being.

Pancreatitis can feel overwhelming, but with the right care and support, managing your abdominal pain and leading a healthier life is definitely possible.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes and is not intended for medical care or diagnostics. If you experience severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, jaundice, or difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical attention, as these may indicate serious conditions like infection, inflammation, or blockages in the pancreas or bile ducts. Delaying treatment could lead to life-threatening complications.

Resources:

  1. Overview and Treatment – Chronic pancreatitis. NHS [Internet]. Published 2019. Reviewed 2022. Accessed January 26, 2025. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-pancreatitis/
  2. Li T, Qin C, Zhao B, et al. Global and regional burden of pancreatitis: epidemiological trends, risk factors, and projections to 2050 from the global burden of disease study 2021. BMC Gastroenterology [Internet]. 2024;24(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-024-03481-8. Accessed January 26, 2025. Available from: https://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12876-024-03481-8
  3. Pancreatitis. Johns Hopkins Medicine [Internet].Accessed January 26, 2025. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/pancreatitis
  4. Pancreatitis Fact Sheets. Yale Medicine [Internet]. Accessed January 26, 2025. Available from: https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/pancreatitis
  5. Symptoms & causes of pancreatitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Published January 31, 2020. Accessed January 26, 2025. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/symptoms-causes
  6. Treatment – Chronic pancreatitis. NHS [Internet]. Published 2019. Accessed January 26, 2025. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-pancreatitis/treatment/
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