Pain Management Options for Your Facility
At Paragon Care we understand that providing pain-free care to your patients is of utmost importance, so we offer several regional anesthesia and postoperative pain management options to suit all patients. Therefore, choosing a well-known and respected company to provide you with pain management solutions is of utmost importance.
It’s also essential to ensure you have a wide range of pain management options available in your facility as different procedures will require different ways to manage the pain. Below is a list of just some of the options we have available from our critical care department in Australia and New Zealand
Analgesia
Analgesic medication is one of the most used forms of pain management after and during medical procedures, the way that that it is administered is an important factor in how it can be best utilized. Intravenous (IV) administration is more commonly the route of choice in critically ill patients because it guarantees consistent absorption of the medication. Deciding between the intermittent or continuous dosage of the medication will depend on factors such as the frequency and severity of pain and the strength of the analgesic medication.
- Patient-controlled analgesia: This is a method of administering medication that allows the patient to control it directly. This can be beneficial as it will give the patient a sense of control over their pain, and provide autonomy on when and how much medication they receive. However, this technique requires awake and oriented patients so it will not be applicable for those still sleeping while overcoming surgery, or who are in a condition that renders them unable to move enough to press the button.
- Nurse-controlled analgesia: This option provides less autonomy to the patient, and requires a nurse to be present so they can administer the analgesia quickly when required or during the procedures. This means that its usage is a little less convenient than its patient-controlled alternative. However, if the patient is unable to administer the medication themselves, this would be a suitable option. It would also be the best option if the doctor determines that it is important to have the patient’s medication dosage monitored.
- Regional (nerve blocks) and neuraxial (spinal or epidural): These analgesia techniques are generally used for trauma patients or during specific surgical procedures. Epidural analgesia is probably the most commonly used regional anesthetic, it is most often used during childbirth, but is also useful for abdominal procedures, major vascular surgery, orthopaedic surgery, and trauma patients. It can be difficult to insert the catheter before beginning procedures, much more difficult than standard analgesia administration.
Cold/Heat Compression Therapy
Cold/heat compression therapy is a convenient pain relief method for post-surgery that allows the patient to avoid any strong medication. Medical device companies will offer a convenient bracing system that combines thermotherapy and compression to reduce pain, relieve inflammation and help recovery. It is best used when the patient is already on the road to recovery as a way to limit the pain and assist with movement.
- Heat therapy: this method works by improving circulation and blood flow to a particular area due to increased temperature. Warming an affected area can provide some relief to discomfort and encourage an increase in muscle flexibility. Heat therapy can relax and soothe muscles and heal damaged tissue.
- Cold therapy: is also known as cryotherapy. This works by reducing blood flow to a particular area, which can help significantly reduce inflammation and swelling that causes pain, especially around a joint or a tendon. The numbing sensation can temporarily reduce nerve activity, which can also relieve pain.
Ambulatory Infusion Pumps
Non-narcotic infusion pumps can provide up to 5 days of pain relief while reducing opioid use as patients are recovering. This means that patients can be both comfortable after surgery and capable of activity as they move through recovery.
An ambulatory infusion pump is a small, portable pump that delivers medication via a thin catheter. This method has several advantages for pain control, firstly it ensures that the patient receives a steady infusion of drugs, with reliable absorption if inserted in unaffected tissue, and also allows doctors to administer a combination of drugs in a manner that is more convenient than repeated and painful injections. It is a helpful method of avoiding the need for any further intravenous access.
Conclusion
So if you are still looking for medical device companies to purchase your pain control solutions from, get in contact with the helpful team at Paragon Care so we can give you a full rundown of all the available treatment options. Providing adequate pain relief is essential in the medical field, so you should always ensure that you are purchasing from a well-known and trusted critical care provider in Australia just like Paragon Care.