Pain relief after surgery (epidural catheter, pump)
epidural catheter · pain pump · epidural after surgery · patient-controlled analgesia · pump with a button
After surgery, pain medicine is given continuously - through a thin tube in the back or through a pump into a vein. With a pump, you press the button yourself when it hurts.
After big surgery on the belly, chest or joints, when ordinary injections and pills are not enough.
⏱ Duration: usually 1 to 3 days after surgery, then you switch to pills
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Talk. The anesthesiologist will tell you in advance which pain relief method suits you.
- Button. If you will have a pump, you will be shown how to press the button. Ask if anything is unclear.
- Medicines. Do not stop them on your own. Tell your doctor about everything you take.
What to bring
- A list of your medicines
- Glasses, if you need them - to see the button and the pump screen
How it goes
- An epidural catheter is usually placed before surgery
- You sit or lie on your side and your back is numbed with an injection
- A thin tube is inserted in your back and taped with a plaster
- The pump is connected to the catheter or to a vein
- When it hurts, you press the button and the pump gives a dose of medicine
- Nurses check your pain, blood pressure and breathing
What you'll feel
- The pain is usually much less, but not always completely gone
- Sometimes your legs go numb or weak, or you feel itching or nausea
- You will not get too much: the pump will not give more than a safe dose
Afterwards
- The catheter is taken out quickly and almost painlessly
- Pain relief continues with pills
- Tell the nurse if the pain becomes strong again
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Severe drowsiness, hard to wake, slow breathing - call the nurse right away
- Your legs do not move or your back hurts badly
- Redness or discharge at the catheter site
- Fever above 38
Common questions
Can my family press the button for me?
No. Only the patient presses the button - this keeps the pump safe.
Will I get used to the painkiller?
With short use after surgery this is rare. The doctor watches the dose.