pain relief Archives - Resource Library - Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

What is an epidural? An epidural is an extremely effective method of giving pain relief after surgery. A very fine tube called a catheter is placed into an area called the epidural space which sits within the spine and surrounds spinal cord. A local anaesthetic numbing type drug called...

Introduction This resource is about the use of morphine to reduce moderate to severe pain. This might be pain from an injury, after an operation or due to an illness. This information has been written specifically about the use of this medicine in children. The information may differ from that...

What is local anaesthetic and how does it work? Local anaesthetic is a medicine that aims to numb a specific area of the body. It works by blocking the nerves that are sending pain messages to the brain and wears off after several hours. Why is local anaesthetic used for pain after surgery? Local...

What is a Versatis patch? Versatis is the brand name of a medicated patch which contains lidocaine. Lidocaine belongs to a group of medicines known as local anaesthetics, which work by temporarily blocking the pathways of pain signals along the nerves. What is it used for? For the relief of...

What is tramadol? Tramadol is a painkiller that belongs to a type of medicine called ‘opioids’ that act on the central nervous system. Tramadol is used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. What types of tramadol are available? Tramadol can come in capsules, soluble tablets,...

What is PCA, NCA and continuous analgesia infusion? Analgesia is just a word for a type of medicine that relives pain (painkillers). Children who are given good pain control (analgesia) tend to make a faster recovery. Patient controlled analgesia (PCA) and nurse controlled analgesia (NCA) and...

Please note that this information resource should be used alongside the manufacturer’s instructions for the TENS machine you are using. What is TENS and how does TENS work? TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. It is a gentle, patient controlled therapy which helps provide...

What is acupuncture? Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine which involves the insertion of very fine needles at key points (known as acupuncture points) into the body. In the UK, acupuncture is one of the most popular and well-established complementary therapies, with approximately 3...