1 8
S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | A U G U S T 2 0 1 4
W
hen it comes to painful procedures, few cause more
ouch! than arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs. "They
hurt," says orthopedic surgeon Charles Getz, MD, of the
Riddle Surgery Center in Media, Pa., pausing for
emphasis before adding: "A lot."
Dr. Getz says it's "always a shocker" to patients when the super-numbing
regional block wears off 12 to 15 hours after the surgery and then pain rears its
ugly head. "They go from being really happy to having a good amount of pain."
Dr. Getz says patients will do 1 of 3 things when the breakthrough pain hits —
start taking their pain medication (good, but it'd be better if they got a loading
P A I N M A N A G E M E N T
Get the Upper Hand on
Orthopedic Pain
5 strategies to manage
post-surgical pain in your
ortho patients.
Dan O'Connor | Editor-in-Chief
PAINFUL PROCEDURE Shoulder arthroscopies produce significant
post-operative pain. Getting through those first 24 hours is key.