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 After your surgery it's important that your pain is relieved. When you are not in pain, you sleep better, move around sooner, and feel better faster. There are several major ways pain can be relieved after surgery. The most traditional way is to use narcotics like morphine. Unfortunately, these medications can cause nausea, drowsiness, constipation, and difficulty breathing.
How does Dr. Syn control post-op pain?
So, Covenant and Dr. Syn have decided to cut down on the use of narcotics by utilizing another type of pain relief called the On-Q pump. This pump is filled with a local anesthetic, or numbing medication, to help control pain for days after surgery.
How does On-Q work?
The On-Q pump is shaped like a small ball. This ball automatically and continuously releases numbing medication in the area of the operative incision. The ball-shaped pump is connected to very thin tubes which are placed by the surgeon at the end of the surgery. This way the numbing medication is released right where the surgical incision is and can relieve pain without the side effects seen with narcotic use. With the On-Q pump you are able to get up and move around easily. A dressing holds the tubing in place, and the ball-shaped pump can be carried in a small bag.
How long does the pain medication work?
The numbing medication will automatically and continuously be released from the pump, so the ball-shaped pump will slowly reduce in size. When the medication is gone, the pump will be flat. Dr. Syn usually chooses On-Q pumps that last for 3 days. This means that you will wear your On-Q pump while you are in the hospital and take it home with you for a few days. It can easily be removed by taking off the dressing and gently pulling the tubes out.
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