What Is Breakthrough Pain?

Updated June 30, 2015.

Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.

Definition:

Breakthrough pain is a flare-up of pain that has generally been controlled. There are many possible causes of breakthrough pain, including engaging in new activities (such as dressing yourself for the first time after surgery), a coughing spell, or a wearing off of the effectiveness of your pain medicine before it is time for the next dose. Often, there is no identifiable reason for an episode of breakthrough pain.

Breakthrough pain can be frustrating, but it can usually be controlled with the help of your doctor. It will be important to help your doctor try to identify a cause for pain flare-ups, since that will make it easier to control the problem.

Sometimes the addition of an additional short-acting pain reliever can help, and occasionally additional methods such as complimentary techniques, including relaxation or distraction are effective.

Also Known As: episodic pain

Common Misspellings: break through pain

Edited by Richard N. Fogoros, MD