How Post-Surgery Skilled Nursing Care Helps With Pain Management
Experiencing some amount of pain after any surgery is normal, but that doesn’t mean that you have to needlessly suffer. There are ways to manage your pain to provide the best comfort as you regain your strength. If a stay at a skilled nursing facility (SNF) is part of your post-op plans, there are many ways that the staff can help manage your pain. SNF care post-surgery can aid pain management and improve overall well-being. As we explore the different types of pain management available at a skilled nursing facility, we’ll also share some benefits and how the staff at Santé can help.
Pain Management Options for Post-Surgery Patients
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an excellent way for post-surgery patients to manage pain. It helps restore movement and strengthen muscles. Trained and licensed physical therapists will help patients through compact exercises and stretches aimed at assisting them to regain mobility and independence. The physical therapy program is geared toward the individual and will address their specific concerns post-surgery.
Medication
Medication can also be a part of the pain management regimen at a skilled nursing facility. Medications can come in many different forms.[1] Pain medications can be taken by mouth or given intravenously. Skilled nursing staff needs to provide medications if they are being administered intravenously. It is also important for pain medication to be administered in a skilled nursing environment because some patients can become addicted to the medication, which leads to deeper problems.
Holistic Approaches
There are many different types of holistic approaches to pain management that can also be part of the pain management plan at a skilled nursing facility. Relaxation techniques such as listening to soothing music or practicing deep breathing exercises may also help to relieve the pain.
Meditation and guided imagery can also be useful. Through these processes, patients learn how to calm their minds and focus their attention elsewhere besides their pain. Guided imagery is a proven form of relaxation that helps patients create a “mental escape” with peaceful images in their minds.
Cold and Heat Therapy
Heating pads and applying cold packs can provide the fast pain relief patients need when recovering from surgery. Cold therapy helps reduce inflammation, while heat helps relax muscles. However, ice therapy can cause tissue damage if used for too long, so follow a registered caretaker’s instructions.
The Importance of Pain Management at a Skilled Nursing Facility
Pain management is extremely important for patients recovering at a SNF. It not only minimizes bouts of moderate to severe pain but also helps to improve overall quality of life. Pain management also helps recovery by ensuring that pain is not a limiting factor. When patients are receiving help to manage their pain, they can also reduce their risk of depression. Many patients who are experiencing pain can become sad that it is limiting them, which can lead them to depression.
At a SNF, pain management goals include providing individualized treatment plans centered around each individual patient. Measures are also taken to manage both short—and long-term pain symptoms.
It is important to discuss pain therapy before your surgery so that you can have an idea of what options are available and what types of treatments may best suit you. It’s also a good idea to see what types of pain management options your skilled nursing facility will offer so that you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.
Skilled Nursing Care Post-Surgery at Santé
Santé offers skilled nursing care for post-surgery patients in Arizona. Our staff provides a variety of pain management options so that patients can be comfortable as they recover. We devise a unique pain management plan for all our patients to receive the care they need. We have a fully trained and licensed staff to provide physical therapy and other treatment options.
Skilled nursing care from Santé is conveniently located in Mesa, Chandler, Surprise, and North Scottsdale, AZ. Contact us today to learn more about how the Santé approach can provide the best chance at pain management for post-surgery patients.
Source:
[1] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11307-pain-control-after-surgery
Dan is Vice President, Marketing of the Alumus family of companies. A Seattle native, he earned his BA in Humanities and Political Science at Evergreen State College. He started his career as a newspaper columnist, eventually transitioning into marketing and tech writing for Microsoft and several other startups. He later launched a successful creative agency focused on branding, digital marketing, and content production in Los Angeles, where he worked for several nursing and behavioral health clients, eventually becoming the National Marketing Director for one of them.
He has taught Vipassana mindfulness meditation and MBSR and spends whatever free time he has with his son snowboarding, hiking, and camping in the mountains.
