Author Question: A patient with severe nerve pain from spinal cord compression is considering surgery to sever the ... (Read 64 times)

crazycityslicker · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A patient with severe nerve pain from spinal cord compression is considering surgery to sever the nerves and relieve the pain. What should the nurse encourage the patient to consider prior to having this surgery?

1. There may be loss of motor function associated with the nerves that will be severed.
2. The surgery will need to be repeated when the nerves regenerate.
3. Pain medication will still be needed after the surgery.
4. The patient will be a paraplegic after the surgery.

Question 2

A patient tells the nurse that she is unable to sleep through the night because of leg pain. What will the nurse most likely assess in this patient?

1. an increase in pain
2. a decrease in pain
3. a decrease in anxiety
4. an increase in concentration

Pswine · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1
Motor function loss is an unwelcome side effect of some surgeries, so the patient needs to consider the amount and degree of potential motor loss. The nerves will not regenerate, so surgery will not need to be repeated. Pain medication may or may not be needed after the surgery. Not all surgeries to sever nerves to control pain result in paraplegia.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1
Pain interferes with a person's ability to fall asleep and stay asleep and can induce fatigue. Fatigue can lower pain tolerance. The nurse will most likely assess an increase in pain in the patient who is unable to sleep. There will not be a decrease in pain. Anxiety may increase the perception of pain and pain may cause more anxiety. The patient in pain often has difficulty concentrating.