Silver lining
One of the few positive effects of the opioid epidemic is an increased
awareness among patients about the risks and dangers of the powerful
painkillers — the nausea, vomiting and sleepiness that prevent them
from completing physical therapy programs and delay their return to
normal life activities. Nerve blocks present a proven alternative for opi-
oid-savvy patients.
The debate over whether or not to use regional anesthesia boils down to
a simple question: What do you consider to be best practice? "The level of
care you'd provide to your friends, family members and colleagues should
be the same you provide to your patients," says Dr. Mariano. "I've had sev-
eral instances where I took care of friends and colleagues, and if their sur-
geries were amenable to regional anesthesia, I always recommended a
continuous nerve block." Now that's an endorsement. Talk about a no-
brainer.
OSM
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