Question

Marla, a 51-year-old female, sprained her right ankle approximately 2 hours ago. The ankle exhibits 3+ pitting edema and extensive reddish blue ecchymosis. Marla complains of an aching, burning pain at a 6 on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain she can imagine. She asks if she can put a hot pack on the ankle for comfort.

28. What physiological effect will it have on Marla’s ankle?

29. Briefly describe two categories of adjuvant drugs and how they work to relieve pain.

30. Describe how the following nonpharmacological methods work to reduce mild pain or to use as an adjuvant (along with pain medication) for more severe pain: guided imagery, effleurage, and a TENS.

31. What are the benefits of using a PCA?

Answer 1

28. Physiological effect:

As because of stretched anke there will be a chances of getting ligament tear, cartilage damage, soft tissue injury leads to miod inflammaion, pain and swelling.

29. Drugs:

Aceclofenac (NSAID) can be administered to reduce pain and treat inflammatory process.

Cyclobenzaprine can be used as a muscle relaxant.

30. Nonpharmacological management:

• Rest: While this may be challenging when spraining an ankle or knee, staying off the injury and giving it a chance to heal will help you recover much more quickly.

• Ice: Use ice packs to help reduce any swelling on the area, using them at 20 minute intervals at least four times a day. Always remember to wrap your ice pack in a thin towel before applying it to your skin. An unprotected ice pack can damage your skin.

• Compression: Put pressure on the injury using a brace, specialty bandage, wrap, boot, or splint. This will help keep the swelling down.

• Elevation: If possible, keep the injury elevated above your heart to reduce the swelling.
• Physiotherapy: Flexion, extension, inversion and eversion of ankle joint helps in range of motion.

* Effleurage is a massage which includes various techniques like stroking, hand over hand, tapping etc., can help to increase blood circulation, relaxing the muscle and improve lymph flow.

TENS: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimuli which helps to stimulate nerve, improve blood circulationand helps to rreduce tendenitis.

31. PCA: Patient controlled analgesia - Diversion therapy can help to divert their mind from pain. so that the client can protect them selves from side effects of medications. PCA helps to reduce anxiety, reduce hospital stay, promotes healing and helps to recover fast.