What types of pain treatments are used?
Oral medications are used for mild to moderate pain. IV medications are used for moderate to severe pain. Patient controlled analgesia (PCA) — delivering medication through an intravenous tube — lets you push a button to deliver the right amount of pain medication for immediate relief. Your doctor prescribes the medication and nurses make sure the PCA is set to deliver the correct dose periodically. PCAs are use for moderate to severe pain. (If you do not feel pain relief call your nurse. The dosage may need to be adjusted.) The machine has a safety feature so that you cannot receive too much medication. Epidural analgesia administers medications by a continuous drip through a small catheter inserted into the epidural space in your back. This is used for abdominal and chest surgeries or lower back pain. Peripheral nerve blocks numb painful areas with local medications. Intramuscular injections — or shots in a muscle, usually given in the hip or the thigh — are used for moderate to
