After surgery, most patients depend on strong medications to help relieve their pain. While the drugs numb the pain, they can also numb the senses. A new device promises pain relief without the side effects.

Instead of getting pain medication from a pill or IV that affects the entire body, a new device called On-Q sends medicine straight to the surgical area.

Orthopedic Surgeon Larry Schrader has been using this device for several months and is amazed at how well it works. On-Q feeds a continuous stream of pain medication directly into the wound area, giving patients pain relief without the usual side effects.

"Narcotics cause some sedation. Most patients know they’re receiving it. It makes them uneasy, groggy…and for some patients that’s very unsettling" says Dr. Schrader. "That can also be unsafe and slow recovery from orthopedic procedures."

According to Dr. Schrader even his patients with large procedures such as a hip replacement use little narcotic pain medication and recover faster. He reports, "Not only is On-Q very effective, but its is quite simple. I commonly send my patients home with it after outpatient or overnight surgeries."

With the On-Q device, surgeons implant a catheter into the surgical opening. It is connected to a plastic tube, which feeds into a plastic bag filled with pain medication. The analgesic bathes the wound through three holes in the catheter.

Phil Mogg’s is one of the first patients in the region to have the device after his outpatient partial knee replacement.

"You don’t even know it’s there," he says "I came home the same day I had my knee replaced and had very little pain."

On the surgical floor at Methodist LeBoneur, McKeen Butler, RN, finds, "My patients using the On-Q Device have been much more comfortable, using less pain medicine and remaining more alert. Orthopedic and General surgery patients have all responded."

"I’d say virtually every patient we’ve used this with has had significant relief of their pain, " says Dr. Schrader.

When Dr. Schrader has sent patients home while they are wearing the On-Q device it is simple to pull out the catheter when the bag is empty. "When in use it’s like wearing a walkman."

Dr. Schrader is presently accepting appointments at all three of his offices. For more information or to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Schrader, call MidSouth Orthopedic Associates at 901-465-4300 or 877-710-5633.

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