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Pain Management for Burn Injuries

Pain Management for Burn Injuries - Frequently Asked Questions


Q: Which doctor should I consult for a burn injury?

A: A general physician or a dermatologist should be consulted.

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Q: What should be the first step towards addressing a burn?

A: Once the burn has occurred, it is essential to remove the patient’s clothing and cleanse the patient’s wounds.

Q: Should cool running water be used to ease off superficial burn?

A: Cold, running water applied for 20 minutes improves the healing of burn wounds.

Q: How should the blister be treated?

A: Blisters should not be popped, as they increase the chances of infection. Wounds should be debrided and bandaged.

Q: Are aloe gels and other kinds of ointments helpful?

A: These ointments decrease the pain of a burn, but do not heal the burn.

Q: Should the patient continue to move the affected area?

A: Preservation of available range of motion and movement is a priority for burn patients. Ambulating improves both cardiac and pulmonary status and decreases risk of deep vein thrombosis and contractures. nutrition supplements.

Q: Why do burns hurt?

A: Burns are extremely painful especially in superficial or partial thickness injuries, since the nerve ends are not damaged but disrupted.

Q: What type of dressing should be use?

A: Dressing types are determined by body area affected, pain tolerance, the need for long term dressing, and the need for frequent assessment of the wound.

Q: What is a skin graft?

A: A thin layer of skin taken from one area of person's body to cover another area is referred to as a skin graft Skin grafting is used to treat partial thickness deep burns and full thickness burns.

Q: What is a donor site?

A: The donor site is the area on a person's body from where the skin graft is taken. Most common donor sites are the buttocks and the inner thigh.

Q: Is massage therapy recommended in burn patients?

A: Massage is recommended in the management of scars to prevent adherence, reduce redness, elevation of scar tissue and pruritus.

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