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Show hospital offers 'pain pump .. V - - , I . t hi : r i ' , i 1 ; ; . . . 1 ,i . i . i ' Vv , ' - , - j ' - K V " '" ' ' - K'- '-:-1 i Ma A i I i ;. ' : v- i If you've ever had surgery, a 3""serious injury, or painful disease. fjCVu know the agonies of waiting until the time you can have the next pain-shot. pain-shot. I flflj Some patients at American Fork "'Hospital now don't have to go through this but can control their Jwn pain medication through use of fljwhat is commonly known as a "pain ' pump." i With the device, known officially -jjjas the "patient-controlled analgesia 7'lnfuser," allows the patient to give themselves their own pain medication - up to a certain point - Mhen they need it, pumping the "quid pain killer directly into their vein. flLJanelle Anderson, Intensive Care ) tjliUnit manager at American Fork Hospital, explained the nurse sets he pump to distribute limited . jjfljamounts of medication when the J, 7 'patient presses a button. j She said this gives the patient flflmore control over pain relief - and f usually they don't use as much "ledication as by the "shot routine." ijl Normally, she said, patients are J fllgiven shots of pain medication shortly to relief their suffering in 'U (of shortly after they come out A flCSUrgery in Surgical Unit), then jp ait about four hours before they "n have more medication -- gardless of how much pain they "perience. .jrtji That system is not effective for JjJ; ?ome Patients, especially those who j1 nae a low pain threshold. M Besides, with that, patients ride a roller coaster of relief, then pain as the shot begins to wear off, then relief again. The "pain pump" helps the patient maintain a level of pain relief, instead in-stead of going up and down. Ms. Anderson said with the new unit, the patient can push a button every five or 10 minutes and receive a small amount of medication, keeping them on a constant level. The unit is programmed so the patient cannot get too much medication. No matter how many times they push the button, the machine will only administer the proper amount. "You cannot get too much or overdose," Ms. Anderson said. She said one big advantage of the -pain pump" is psychological because they know they can have the medication when they need it, not when a nurse says it's time. When patients know they are at the mercy of nurses to receive their medication, their anxiety level increases in-creases - and they "hurt more" while waiting. "It seems the patient requires less medication when they have more control over it. They sleep better and are more alert. Their psychological recovery is faster." Although patients are usually on the "pump" from 24 to 48 hours in the case of surgery, it can be used longer to help someone with a painful disease such as cancer. American Fork Hospital is currently leasing the unit and only has one. but Ms. Anderson hopes they are able to gel more. Contestants for Miss Pleasant Grove include, from L-R, Tammy Bird. Back, Lisa Hollis, Michelle Palmer, Shellie Nicole Wadley, Robyn Richards, Shalaine Grimshaw, Eggett, Susan Southam and Kimberly Lamoreaux. |