Pain Management: Patient Leaflets

Entonox

Entonox is a gas that may be offered to help you manage pain during certain procedures, such as dressing changes or applying a plaster cast.

It is made up of 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide. Although nitrous oxide is sometimes used as an anesthetic, in this mixture it acts as fast acting pain relief.

Entonox is often referred to as ‘gas and air’ and is most used for pain relief during labour.

As Entonox is short acting, it can be used for any procedure that requires brief pain relief, or to provide comfort while you wait for other pain medications to take effect.

Epidural Haematoma Advice

Serious complications from epidural pain relief are very uncommon (around 1 in 10,000). However, because the epidural space lies close to the spinal cord, a build-up of fluid such as an infection (pus) or a blood clot can place pressure on the spinal cord.

If this happens, it must be recognised and treated quickly by specialist hospital doctors to prevent long term problems.

This leaflet explains what symptoms to look out for and what to do if you think something is wrong after your epidural catheter has been removed.

Oral Ketamine for Pain Relief

Ketamine is an anaesthetic medicine that, in low doses, can help manage pain that has not improved with standard treatments. It is particularly useful for nerve related pain, pain linked to reduced blood supply, and for patients already taking long term opioids. On the wards, Ketamine is given as an oral syrup.

After Your treatment

Radiofrequency Facet Joint Denervation