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Step 1
Ensure your condition is properly diagnosed. Surgery is the typical treatment for the more common pancreatitis carcinoma. While this treatment is appropriate for the cancerous version of chronic pancreatitis, it is not necessary for autoimmune pancreatitis.
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Step 2
Take a series of oral prednisone for three months. This is the most common treatment for autoimmune pancreatitis and it is very effective. 70 percent of patients who receive this treatment recover from the condition, however, a relapse is also very common. In the case of a relapse a second or third course of oral prednisone, which is a steroid, can be administered.
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Step 3
Treat pain with a variety of pain management options. Halt all alcohol consumption, as this not only accelerates the disease, it can irritate the pancreas and lead to exaggerated pain. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications are very effective for mild pain and over-the-counter acetaminophen is an inexpensive pain treatment option. For moderate pain, stronger pain relief agents like codiene, which is a mild narcotic, can be used. Stronger opiates can also be used to treat pain when the pain is severe. The final pain treatment option is somewhat controversial--the use of pancreatic enzymes. Research has returned mixed results on the effectiveness of this pain management option for autoimmune pancreatitis.
