Volume 29, Issue 163, September 2025

The effectiveness of different pain relief methods in palliative care: An analysis of pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management approaches

Monika Kondracka^1♦, Michał Bielecki², Anna Bieda³, Kamil Kondracki⁴, Agata Zapałowska⁵, Milena Szczepańska⁶, Wojciech Kozłowski⁷, Paulina Opoka⁸, Sergiusz Stawarz- Kobyliński⁹

¹Prague Hospital of Lord's Transfiguration, Warsaw, Poland
²The Independent Group of Public Ambulatory Care Institutions, Warsaw, Poland
³Masovian Bródnowski Hospital, Warsaw, Poland
⁴Medical Center named after the Battle of Warsaw 1920 in Radzymin Independent Public Health Care, Facility Complex, Radzymin, Poland
⁵John Paul II Independent Public Specialist Western Hospital, Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland
⁶Independent Clinical Hospital named after Prof. Witold Orlowski, Warsaw, Poland
⁷Marynin Medical Center, Marynin, Poland
⁸Medical University of Lublin, Poland
⁹Medical University of Bialystok, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Monika Kondracka, Prague Hospital of Lord's Transfiguration, Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

Pain management is currently one of the most difficult challenges in modern medicine. Despite the availability of pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods, it is not easy to completely eliminate it from patients' lives. Acupuncture, psychological support, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are examples of complementary therapies that have promise, especially in enhancing quality of life. Each patient's unique health and pain profile has a significant impact on how well a given strategy works. Only a holistic approach and a combination of various pain management methods will allow patients to achieve maximum treatment results. Knowing the appropriate methods, clinicians can apply them based on patient preferences and conditions.

Keywords: palliative care; management of pain; opioids; acupuncture; TENS

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e169ms3645

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i163.e169ms3645

Published: 18 September 2025