I am having orthopaedic surgery-do I need a nerve block to control the pain?
See the answer to the above question. If you are having outpatient surgery, usually your surgeon will provide a prescription for pain medication to take home with you. Alternatively, there are cases, particularly orthopaedic procedures, where your anesthesiologist can perform a peripheral nerve block to essentially numb up the operative site for several hours to treat postop pain. Patients benefit from nerve blocks by not having to endure the side effects of narcotics, and when the pain actually develops, it is often not as intense as it would normally be. Nerve blocks are actually preferred for shoulder surgery and repair of fractures involving the arm or leg. Your anesthesiologist will go over the pros and cons of this procedure with you and determine if you are a candidate for it or not. You do not have to have a nerve block if you don’t desire it. For patients who are going to be admitted, IV narcotics and oral pain pills can be provided as noted in the preceding question. Of cours
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- I am having orthopaedic surgery-do I need a nerve block to control the pain?