Before the Anestheologist knocks you out he carefully inserts a needle into the side of your neck to administer a nerve blocking medication that numbs your shoulder/arm. However, there are two problems with this procedure. Number one; he gives it to you before he puts you asleep so you can inform him that "said" nerve block is working. I do not know about you but having a needle inserted into the side of your neck is not a pleasant experience. Somehow they need to come up with a way to do it after you have been knocked out. Number two; the nerve block has this habit of wearing off in about 6 to 8 hours after surgery which means you will probably be awaken in agonizing pain like I was two in the morning.
Then while you are asleep a catherer is placed into your shoulder that is connected to a pump that administers a local pain killer directly into the affected area. The only problems I found with this pain killer/pump process was it is on a timer so it administers the medication in intervals. (Sometimes you need it administered more quickly) Also, it only lasts for about forty eight hours, so after it is empty, you need to have it removed (or do it yourself like I did with your mother looking on in a horror.) and it is at this time you experience what post-surgical shoulder pain is really all about.
Finally, there is that true blue bottle of percoset to comfort you before, during and most importantly, after that nerve block and pain pump are removed. The down side about these little white pills is that they tend to wear off.
No comments:
Post a Comment