Patients are told they might feel heaviness in the chest on the same
side as the block and are therefore encouraged to cough and breathe
deeply to help remove secretions. They're warned that facial or eye
drooping might be seen or felt on the same side as the block, and that
they might experience decreased sensation and movement of the
shoulder, arm or hands.
• Axillary and infraclavicular blocks for wrist, hand and elbow pro-
cedures. Patients are told they might have decreased movement and
sensitivity in the extremities.
• Femoral, adductor canal or popliteal blocks for knee, foot and
ankle procedures. Nurses inform patients that they could experience
decreased feeling in lower parts of the legs and are warned to not
place weight on the extremities until consulting with their surgeon.
'Whatever it takes'
All patients are at risk of experiencing higher than acceptable post-op
pain. Overprescribing opioids is a quick and easy way to ensure they
remain comfortable and satisfied with the care they receive, but send-
ing them home with too many pills increases the risk of abuse and
addiction.
That's why educating patients about the effectiveness of alternative
therapies is so essential, according to Ms. Rowe, who says you
shouldn't overlook basic recovery protocols such as rest, ice and ele-
vation. "We have custom ice packs designed for placing around hips,
knees and wrists that patients really love," says Ms. Rowe. "We also
send them home with an extra pack, so they always have one in the
freezer, ready to go."
That attention to detail shows how focused the team at Lakeside
Surgery Center is on ensuring patients recover from surgery in as little
pain as possible. "We tell patients to trust our opioid-sparring treat-
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