Pain Relief After Surgery

Pain relief after surgery is an important part of the recovery process. When you’re not in pain, you move around sooner, have a better appetite and return to normal quicker. Dr. Cole has performed hundreds of surgeries involving the On-Q PainBuster Catheter, and he feels it’s the best way to for patients to manage post-operative pain and discomfort.

There are two primary methods of relieving pain after surgery. The most familiar is the use of narcotics like morphine. These drugs can cause unpleasant side effects such as nausea, drowsiness, constipation and difficulty breathing. They may also be habit forming. Medical science has developed a new way of relieving pain that can cut down or even stop the need for these drugs. This important new type of pain relief is called ON-Q PainBuster.

The New Choice for Post-Surgical Pain Relief

Narcotic Pain Relief

• Common narcotics are morphine and codeine. They may be taken in pill form or given through an injection or an IV. Narcotics affect the entire body and may slow the recovery process. They can make you sleepy or groggy. Narcotics may also cause nausea, vomiting, constipation and possible breathing problems.

Continuous Pain Relief at the Surgical Site

• Doctors have used local anesthetics during different types of surgeries for years. Now these medicines are used to relieve pain after surgery. The local anesthetic is infused directly at the surgical site and relieves the pain even while you’re up and moving around.

What You Should Know About the On-Q PainBuster

The ON-Q PainBuster uses a ballon-type pump filled with local anesthetic medication. The pump is automatic and completely portable and may be clipped to your clothing or placed in a small carrying case.

The pump is attached to a very thin tube (catheter), which is placed by Dr. Cole at the end of your surgery. You may wear the ON-Q PainBuster for 2 – 3 days or until the “ball” is flattened. After the dressing is removed, gently pull the catheter out (approximately 4 – 6 inches). Once the catheter is removed, place a sterile dressing (bandage) over the catheter exit site. You can take a shower (NO BATH) on the fourth post-operative day, 24 hours after the catheter is removed.

Things to be Aware of When Using the On-Q PainBuster

Immediately report any of these symptoms to your doctor (close the clamp on the pump tubing to stop infusion)

• Increase in pain
• Redness, swelling, pain, and/or discharge at the catheter site
• Dizziness
• Light headedness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing, buzzing in your ears
• Metal taste in your mouth
• Numbness and/or tingling around your mouth, fingers or toes
• Drowsiness
• Confusion