Infusion Therapy (IV) Flashcards
What is Infusion therapy?
Infusion therapy — frequently referred to as an IV infusion, IV therapy and IV infusion therapy — refers to treatments that are injected directly into your bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) needle. The IV treatment usually is prescribed by your sports and pain management doctor in Midtown Manhattan when oral medication isn’t doing the trick.
Medication also can be administered into your muscles for relief or as an epidural in the narrow covering of your spinal cord. Whether administered through your veins or other areas, the most common types of IV infusion drugs include:
Pain medication like ketamine Anti-inflammatory medicine such as steroids IV hydration Antibiotics Antifungal meds Chemotherapy Nutritional supplements
IV Hydration Therapy
As a board-certified anesthesiologist, your physician has extensive experience treating and working with patients to help them remain healthy, maintain their competitive edge and aid in healing when they need it. Hydration therapy, through drinking sufficient fluids and eating water-retentive foods, is a well-known technique among healthy athletes who know how to take care of their bodies, prevent cramps and avoid dehydration.
IV hydration therapy, although not as well-known, is an effective way to rehydrate following a grueling competition, as well as a good way to pre-hydrate before you compete. If you are a high-level athlete in Manhattan who may have a sensitivity to drinking enough fluids to keep you hydrated, IV hydration through your sports medicine doctor may be just the ticket for you.
IV Infusion for Pain Management
IV therapy to treat chronic pain is a viable alternative when you have trouble taking oral meds or need to increase your dosage under supervision. With the guidance of your NYC doctor, you’ll understand your options and how the process works.
Some of the most common reasons and conditions for which your doctor may recommend IV treatment include:
Spondylolisthesis Back pain that doesn’t respond to other pain relief options Crohn’s disease Cancer Guillain-Barre syndrome Osteoporosis Rheumatoid arthritis
How IV Therapy Works?
An IV infusion may take anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes to complete. An IV is inserted in your arm and you’re made comfortable while the medication slowly drips through the needle. Rarely do you feel any pain or other sensations during the infusion, although you may feel a slight tinge at the site of the injection, easily treatable with ice when you get home.
As you sit there, you’re encouraged to keep yourself occupied with things to keep your mind off the IV therapy. You can:
Bring a friend and talk during the IV treatment
Read
Write
Listen to music over headphones
Watch a movie on your mobile device (also using headphones)
IV Treatment Side Effects
When your IV infusion is complete, you get a small bandage or dressing over the site where the needle was. Leave it in place for about 30 minutes. If you’re on blood thinners, you may be instructed to keep the dressing on longer. Your doctor ensures the infusion staff has all your personal instructions.
Any after-infusion medication you need to take is provided before you leave. Rarely are side effects an issue following IV infusion therapy. The most you might expect is a rash or fever, in which case you should call your physician immediately just to be on the safe side. Other side effects of pain medication IV therapy include:
Dizziness
Nausea
Hallucinations
Blurred vision
Before and Aftercare
Usually, your doctor recommends that you don’t eat for about eight hours before you undergo an infusion, especially until you’ve discovered how your body reacts to IV therapy. You should arrange for someone to take you home because you shouldn’t drive for about 12 hours after your infusion for pain.
In most cases, you can return to your normal activities the next day — very often even the same day. You may respond right away and receive relief from the first treatment, or it can take several IV infusions to get you on the healing path. And while some people receive no benefits from it, studies suggest that as many as 70 percent of people who undergo IV infusion therapy see a marked improvement in their quality of life.
