CarryThatWeight, BSN Specializes in Oncology. Has 12 years experience. Oct 9, 2014 Last month I had a laparoscopic procedure and I had pain in my shoulders and ribs for five days. I was up and walking quite a bit, shifting positions, heating pad, taking gas x, anything I could think of other than taking opiates. Nothing really worked. On day 6, it just got better. So I vote for time being the most effective intervention! My doctor told me that thinner people tend to have discomfort from the CO2 for a longer period of time than larger people. I wonder if that's why kiddos complain of it? 0 Likes
amanda827 Oct 9, 2014 No I worked as a CNA @ a LTCF and am a small nurse like you. Managers look more at your common sense and the care u give the patients. Being short is harder on your back because u don't have the leverage of a tall person. (Sorry to say)Go in an Zc"@&-nak 0 Likes
firstinfamily, RN Has 33 years experience. Oct 9, 2014 IF it is little ones who are recovering from surgery and there are rocking chairs available, you might try to "rock" the gas away. They may not feel like walking, but rocking may help. Motion seems to be the trick. 0 Likes
JustcallmeNurse Specializes in Neurosurg, Urology Surg, ENT Surg, Neuro. Has 2 years experience. Oct 12, 2014 I work on a Urology surgical floor and patients frequently complain about gas pains, including radiating up into their shoulder (from irritating the phrenic nerve and diaphragm like another poster said). The one thing that the docs push for gas pain is walking. And more walking. And walking again. :-) I have to say, it does seem to help the majority of the patients. Edited Oct 12, 2014 by JustcallmeNurse spelling error 0 Likes
firstinfamily, RN Has 33 years experience. Oct 17, 2014 It is pressure on the phrenic nerve from the gas that causes the discomfort in the shoulder!! 0 Likes
stargarden Has 6 years experience. Oct 19, 2014 I have found there is nothing that really seems to relieve this pain other then time. We get patients all the time who get adequate amounts of pain meds and still get no relief. It sucks. 0 Likes
OhioCCRN, MSN, NP Specializes in SICU. Has 10 years experience. Oct 19, 2014 *guilty* of telling patients that the gas is moving toward their shoulders thanks for educating me re: phrenic nerve innervation! I never really thought about the anatomical impossibility of the former statement, I heard a surgeon telling a patient that and it stuck.... 0 Likes
Anita F Jul 13, 2015 1) ambulation2) mylicon3) pain medication4) warm drinks and other bowel care5) hot pad to site of gas pains (usually shoulder or abdomen)6) increase fluid intake7) repositioning 0 Likes
NurseAshlee1989 Has 5 years experience. Jun 25, 2016 In my experience on a busy surgical floor, heat make a huge different in relieving post op gas pain both in the abdomen and the shoulders. A warm blanket or compress around the shoulders makes a huge difference. As far as ambulation goes after surgery, I was under the impression that gas in the abdomen stimulates nerves that causes pain to radiate into the shoulders, especially the right shoulder. Ambulation helps to dislodge the gas from the nerve to relieve the pain, and also help stimulate the bowels so patients begin passing flatus that relieves any distension they experience. 0 Likes
rondagail7 Jun 28, 2016 I've found that having the patient drink Sprite (not 7-up) and frequently change positions on the stretcher helps 0 Likes
Maggiemoo1961 Oct 8, 2017 The pains in the shoulders are from the CO2 pressing on the diaphragm. Walking may actually make it worse. I've been an ambulatory surgery nurse for 29 years. We tell our patients the best way to relieve the pain is to lay flat. This helps the air to settle lower and stop it from pressing on the diaphragm. Time is the cure, the body reabsorbs the air in 24-48 hours. The patients needs to pace themselves until that time, laying flat when the pain gets bad. 0 Likes
Lalarn2010 Oct 9, 2017 Laughter! If you can find a way to make the patient laugh (funny YouTube videos, a comedy movie or TV show, etc) this truly is the best medicine. The diaphragmatic movement during laughter helps to dislodge bubbles and alleviate the shoulder/neck pain. Heat packs over the site also works but not as effectively as laughing. Use a good pillow splint to have the patient use on the abdomen while laughing. 0 Likes