Bextra and Orthopedics

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Please share your opinions/experiences/ input regarding Bextra. Reason being My 84 year old mother fell 10/21 and broke hip (repared with partial 10/23) and pelvis in two places-at least one break, bones separated almost 1/2 inch. (she is in rehab) She has been extreamly nauseated when getting OOB(long standing Hx of nausea-has hiatal hernia-has been on Previcid many years and Phenergan lig. sm amts 1/4 to 1/2 tesp usually helps) She has decided it was the Darvocet causing the nausea and has stopped taking them and won't ask for anything else. I think that the nagging pain and increased pain while walking is stirring up her nausea. (she hardly eats anything either-BP doesn't really fall much when she gets up. Had hear from a drug rep. about Bextra going to come on the market and was so much better re: Side effects compaired to Celebrex. Also If any suggestions re: her nausea- the nurse is going to bring her Tums for her to take PRN since this PM Mom said her nausea was a tiny bit better after taking the Tums(for her Calcium ) I'm going to have Mom shake and nod her head in bed and see if she gets nausea increases- maybe it is her middle ear! Her Potassium (since surgery) is frequently down and has to have replacement. ANY tidbits welcomed. The "Family Conference" is tomorrow. She still is not navagating stairs- but does very well getting out of bed and waking to BR and Back. Thanks for any input.

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Specializes in Home Health.

Well, it meets a lot of resistance from doctors, but I suggest a duragesic patch for pain. The lowest does 25mcg can be tried. I have convinced several docs to put my older pt's on this, and it really helps them to feel better from the aches and pain of severe arthritis.

But, docs don't like it cause they don't want to get old folks "so dsedated they sit down and on't get up." or they don't want them to get hooked. What? I mean heck, at this point, so what? Shouldn't they be able to enjoy life?? Contrary to being so sedated, the folks I have seen go on it actually improve their functional acpacity b/c they don't have pain. One of my pt was so dopey from prn pain meds, she was wearing a diaper and unable to go the the BR by herself. Got her on Duragesic, and she was able to walk to the BR again in a week. She was so happy to feel alive again. Now she had chronic pain, not sure your loved one has chronic pain, but it is something to think about.

Percoet made me so incredibly nauseous I will NEVER take it again. Sounds like she is unable to tolerate NSAIDS d/t her tender tummy (I can relate.)

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Thanks so much for the info. Yes, I've tried that route with the Doctor- he said the 25mg was tooooo much . On the horizon is the 12.5mg. patch -won't help Mom now. Yes she also has rhumatiod arthritis- has always taiken Pain over nausea.. (mom had a D&C with just a little Valium because years ago she would stay sick for days after general anesthia-she is one tough cookie) With her hip surg. she had a spinal and did fine. May be I'll ask again- they can always pull the patch off if it makes her too woozy.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

This may be a really dumb question, but can you try the duragesic patch but cut it in half? I'm just a student so if that isn't possible, please let me know why--I might need that information later!

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

No you can't cut the patch because the medicine in it will leak out. It needs to be completely intact.

A LOT of orthopods do not want any arthritis medication taken for the first couple of months post op. The theory is that inflammation helps healing. I've had patients who were sick as dogs on Darvocet so I believe that may be it. Plain Tylenol is a great pain medicine....975-1000 mg.

Good luck. To break a hip is really painful.

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My MD just gave me a prescription for Bextra for my back. I have been happy with it thus far. No n/v, and I don't always take it with food. Good luck!:cool:

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Tonight Mom was started on Carafate.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

I was given Bextra a couple of months ago when I hurt my knee at work and it worked really well, but I have a stomach of Iron. I was wondering why they want your mom to have an NSAID after the hip replacement? Usually they want the inflammation there to help stabilize the joint.

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