• To make you as comfortable as possible while you recover.
• To reduce your pain without sedation so you may start walking, doing your breathing exercises and getting your strength back more quickly. You may even leave the hospital sooner.
• Improve your results. You may avoid some problems, such as pneumonia and blood clots, that may affect others.

How does intravenous patient controlled analgesia (PCA) work?
Pain medicine will be given through your IV line.

A pain medicine pump will be programmed to deliver medication through your IV line. If you are having surgery, the pump is usually set up for your use while you are in the recovery room.

Your physician will decide the type of pain medication, how much and how often you receive it. The pump will be programmed to give you an amount of pain medication that is typically safe for someone of your sex, size, age and diagnosis or type of surgery.

You will have a button you can press to give yourself pain medication when you hurt. Your pump may also be programmed to give you a small amount of pain medication continuously. THE PUMP HAS A BUILT-IN LIMIT so you can't give yourself too much.

You are the only person who will know when you are hurting so you are the ONLY person who should press the PCA button. Your family, visitors, physicians and hospital personnel are not to press the PCA.

Remember, the pump will be programmed with a safe amount of pain medication and a safe time between doses so you cannot give yourself too much too often.

The doctors and nurses caring for you will follow your progress carefully. There will be frequent checks on your blood pressure, pulse, breathing and level of sedation. You will be asked to rate your pain using a 0-10 scale. (0= no pain, 10= worst pain imaginable) Your reports are important as they will help your doctors and nurses make necessary adjustments in your care to keep you safe and as comfortable as possible.

Your part in pain control
Report your pain rating using the 0-10 scale.

Press your PCA button as soon as you begin to feel pain. Do not wait until the pain is severe.

Tell your physician or nurse about pain that won't go away. It is realistic to expect some pain with coughing, moving about in bed or walking, but your pain level should go down when these activities are stopped.

Tell your physician or nurse if your pain treatment is not as effective as you would like.

Also report any of these reactions: itching, nausea, problems with urinating or constipation, feelings of increased sedation. Your nurse can then report this to your physician so adjustments can be made to your care.

For more information about patient controlled analgesia, call Baptist Hospital East's Center for Pain Management at (502) 896-7246.

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