Pain Management
Wellnes
Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) FAQ's
Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) means that you will have some control of your pain medicine. Before PCA, when you needed medicine for pain, the nurse was called to bring it. With PCA, you press a button and the pain medicine is given through a small tube in a vein in your arm. It is carefully measured and timed by a pump so that the exact amount specified by your doctor is given. The pump has safeguards that will not give you more medicine than is percribed and is very safe as long as only the patient pushes the button. Since the pain medicine is given through the IV line it is not necessary to have a "shot" or be stuck with a needle each time pain medicine is given.
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How does PCA work?
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Can I take too much medicine if I press the button too often?
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My family or a friend may be with me. Can they press the button for me?
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Can I get out of bed and walk when the PCA pump is connected to my IV?
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What if I don't get pain relief when I press the button?
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What if I get sick at my stomach or itch from the pain medicine?
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When will the PCA pump be stopped?
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Will I get enough pain relief from the pain pills?
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I have never taken pain medicine. Will I get "hooked" on the medicine?