Sickle Cell Pain Emergency: Causes, Solutions, and Home-Based Relief Strategies
Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition that causes a person's red blood cells to be sickle or crescent shaped. This abnormal shape can lead to a condition known as sickle cell pain crisis, or vaso-occlusive crisis, which occurs when these sickled red blood cells block small blood vessels, restricting blood flow and causing severe pain.
Common triggers for a sickle cell pain crisis include changes in the weather, dehydration, stress, strenuous exercise, infection, alcohol use, and certain medications. To avoid these triggers, it's essential to stay well hydrated, manage and reduce stress, avoid strenuous exercise, protect against infections, and avoid extreme temperature exposures or sudden temperature changes.
Regular medical follow-up and communication with healthcare providers about managing triggers can further reduce the risk of pain crises. Fever in someone with sickle cell disease is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention, as it can worsen the crisis.
In the event of a pain crisis, over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and Tylenol can be used to treat mild to moderate pain. For more severe pain, doctors might prescribe stronger opioid pain relief like morphine, diamorphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, or milder opioids like codeine phosphate, dihydrocodeine, and tramadol.
If a person experiences symptoms such as pain in the arms or legs, pain in the chest or abdomen, swelling in the hands or feet, or fatigue, they should seek medical attention. Symptoms like a fever above 101°F (38.3°C), breathing difficulties, chest pain, abdominal swelling, severe headache, sudden weakness or loss of feeling and movement, seizure, painful erection of the penis lasting more than 4 hours, and vision issues also require immediate medical attention.
In more severe cases, a person may need to contact a doctor or visit the hospital emergency room. If a person is experiencing frequent crises, they can speak to a hematologist about treatments that can help prevent episodes. In the event of more serious symptoms, such as fever and difficulty breathing, they should call 911 or seek immediate medical attention.
If a person cannot manage their pain at home, they should contact a doctor right away. In 2019, the FDA approved a new IV medication, Crizanlizumab-tmca (Adakveo), which helps reduce pain crises in individuals over 16 years of age.
Sickle cell disease is most prevalent among people of sub-Saharan African, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean heritage. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends maintaining good general health, reducing or avoiding stress, quitting smoking, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, treating infections promptly, avoiding extremes of temperature, and taking precautions when traveling by air to prevent a pain crisis.
- Sickled red blood cells, due to their abnormal shape, can cause a condition known as sickle cell pain crisis, which is characterized by blocking small blood vessels and restricting blood flow, leading to severe pain.
- To avoid triggers for a sickle cell pain crisis, it's crucial to maintain good hydration, manage stress, avoid strenuous exercise, protect against infections, and avoid extremes of temperature or sudden temperature changes.
- Common medications like acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and Tylenol can be used for mild to moderate pain during a sickle cell pain crisis.
- For severe pain, doctors may prescribe stronger opioid pain relief like morphine, diamorphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, or milder opioids like codeine phosphate, dihydrocodeine, and tramadol.
- If someone experiences symptoms such as pain in the arms or legs, pain in the chest or abdomen, swelling in the hands or feet, or fatigue, they should seek immediate medical attention.
- In more severe cases, a person may need to contact a doctor or visit the hospital emergency room, and if they are frequently experiencing crises, they can speak to a hematologist about treatments that can help prevent episodes.
- Sickle cell disease is most prevalent among people of sub-Saharan African, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean heritage, and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends maintaining good general health, reducing stress, quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and taking precautions when traveling to prevent a pain crisis.
