Renee explains the process of removing your pain pump tubes post surgery. After you come out of surgery you will have a ON-Q Pain Pump, contained in a small, black, fanny pack style, bag, clipped around your waist. It has two small tubes that are inserted into the left and right side of your pelvic area. These tubes feed a non-narcotic, local, anesthetic (Marcaine) to help with your post surgery recovery. In the following video she will explain in detail how to remove the pain pump tubes once the pain medication supply has depleted. The medication is housed in a receptacle and is delivered automatically. The receptacle is located inside the black bag and when the receptacle is full, it will look about the size of a softball. After about 5 days the receptacle should be depleted. On day 5 you will need to remove the tubes attached to the pain pump.
Pain Pump Removal Steps
- Begin by removing all the dressings around the tubes.
- Grasp the tube with 2 fingers of one hand close to the incision and pull the tube out while you cough. You do not have to cough, but coughing can help. After you pull some of the tubing out, you can reposition your hand back close to the incision site and do it again until tube is completely removed. Pulling the tube out does not hurt. It kind of feels like a long IV. The tubing is approximately 1 foot in length.
- When the tube is completely removed, you will see a small black tip at the end.
- You can put the tubes and the pump in the garbage.
- Place 2 small band-aids over the incisions.
- The incisions should heal within a few hours.
Potential Problems While Wearing The Pain Pump
Sometimes medication leaks out of the small insertion site. If there is a significant amount of leakage, the wet dressing can be changed, just be careful not pull out the tubes.
Most of our patients do not have any issues with and are very thankful for the pain pump. Possible side effects are shortness of breath, headache, metal taste in your mouth, and/or blurred vision.
- If you experience shortness of breath, go to ER immediately and contact your doctor.
- If you have a headache or blurred vision, it might be a symptom of either the on-q pain medication or one of the other medications that you have been prescribed. Try to identify which medication is causing the problem and either call us or send us a message via the portal. Another possible minor side effect is a metal taste in your mouth. If you decide that the pain pump is the cause to any of these issues, but the issue is not bothering you too much, it is OK to leave the pain pump tubes in. If the issue is causing you too much discomfort, you can remove the pain pump at any time. The pain pump is to help make you comfortable.
If you have any questions, please give us a call or send us a portal message.