Pain Relief For Wound Dressing

The world union of wound healing societies differentiates between four types of pain.

Pain relief for wound dressing. A wound dressing change can be painful in the moment but it is necessary for long term pain relief. There is pain related to the wound itself and what is called incidental pain pain that is caused by dressing changes debridement or other types of medical care. Incident pain occurs at the wound site throughout the day during simple activities such as sneezing coughing walking or changing position. Gauze is most likely to cause pain.

Choose a dressing that can stay in place longer if pain is an issue and choose a dressing that promotes moist wound healing. Two trials tested a dressing containing ibuprofen however the pain measures and time frames reported were different. Whether ensuring that a palliative patient can rest easily and with dignity or minimizing the pain experienced with a dressing change or even a debriding procedure wound care is fraught with pain and thus opportunities for pain management. Products designed to be non traumatic are most frequently used to prevent tissue trauma.

Background pain can be an intermittent or continuous nagging pain at the site of a wound even at rest. Procedural pain is directly related to activities and procedures like a daily wound dressing change. Of course some patients are unfortunate enough to already have acute or chronic pain from another condition in addition to the wound itself. One trial indicated that pain relief achieved over 5 days with ibuprofen dressings could represent a clinically relevant reduction in pain.

Minimising pain at wound dressing related procedures. Use dressing securement techniques that ensure longer wear time of the dressing selecting products that are gentle to skin for removal. Dressings topical creams and lotions have been promoted to reduce the pain of ulcers. Typically caused by damage to body tissue.

Talking to the patient was the most important factor for eight countries but for other countries facial expression and body language were the most important. Dressing removal is considered to be the time of most pain. Common wound related etiologies include decubitus ulcers mucositis and procedures such as debridement dressing changes or radiation treatments 2 3. This pain is often described as sharp aching or throbbing.

Pain assessment results demonstrated that respondents made a general assessment of pain rather than specifically assessing patients pain at the time of wound dressing changes. White r harding k 2006 trauma and pain in wound care. World health organization 1996 cancer pain relief. Wound dressings help protect your wound while it heals so you need to follow your doctor s wound care instructions closely to make sure you are using and changing your dressings correctly.

Often wound pain is a combination of nociceptive or neuropathic pain 1.