New York Burn Injury – Medical and Legal Help
Pain Management

Burns are among the most painful injuries because the skin contains numerous nerve endings that can produce sensations of sharp pain, burning, stinging or tingling. While first degree burns typically cause mild, temporary pain, deep second degree burns can lead to severe pain. Oddly, deep third degree burns sometimes do not cause any pain. This happens when the damage is so extensive that the nerves have been completely destroyed. In addition to pain produced by the burns, patients often have to endure painful treatments, such as wound excision, debridement and regular dressing changes. Administration of proper pain medications is vital in keeping burn injury victims as comfortable as possible while providing the necessary treatments.

Pain Management: Medications

Pain management therapy varies according to the needs of each New York burn injury victim. Usually, the type of the burn and its extent determine what type of pain medications and treatments will be the most effective:

Electrical Burns. For victims of electrical burns, hydration is the key to reducing the extent of damage and decreasing pain. If the patient has sustained extensive muscle damage, osmotic diuretics might be administered to restore urinary output.

Chemical Burns. Chemical burn victims typically receive a standard intravenous fluid therapy and a narcotic therapy. Morphine is often used to make patients comfortable and to sedate patients who have sustained damage to their eyes. In cases of mild chemical burns, analgesics such as Advil, Motrin and/or Anaprox might be administered.

Thermal Burns (First Degree). Pain produced by minor thermal burns is usually treated with over-the-counter pain medications, such as aspirin, Tylenol or Motrin.

Pain Management: Third Degree and Deep Second Degree Burns

Because second and third degree burns usually produce extraordinary pain, most patients require opioids or narcotic pain medications. Some of the more common painkillers in this group include morphine sulfate, Demerol and Vicodin. These drugs are administered according to strict safety protocols due to their potential to cause addiction. In addition, many New York burn injury patients notice that narcotic painkillers make them drowsy and unable to concentrate. This is why driving and operating machinery under the influence of narcotic or opioid painkillers is prohibited by law. Another potentially serious side effect of these painkillers is increased tolerance over time, which means that the patient might require an increased dosage.

Alternative Pain Management Techniques

In addition to pain medications, burn injury specialists sometimes suggest that patients try alternative pain management techniques, such as acupuncture and hypnosis. These methods are especially effective in dealing with the psychological distress caused by intense, prolonged pain. Alternative pain management methods are also used during surgical burn treatment procedures, such as debridement and skin graft care. The patient might be encouraged to play computer games or use special goggles to enter a calming virtual reality environment. The goal of these techniques is to distract the patient from the procedure, thus lessening his or her awareness of the pain.

Contacting a Burn Injury Attorney in New York

The sponsors of this website, the law firm of Meiselman, Denlea, Packman, Carton & Eberz, are dedicated burn injury attorneys New York victims come to for sound legal advice. They carefully review each case to determine if compensation might be available for victim's physical and emotional suffering, as well as medical expenses, including the costs of pressure garments, specialized nutrition and long-term counseling and rehabilitation. If you would like to schedule a consultation, contact them through this website or cal (914) 517-5000.