Patient Comms

Question 1

First question in pre-op

Answer 1

Where is your pain today?

Question 2

If the patient is unhappy, what would success look like to them? What is one question you can ask to help find some success?

Answer 2

What are your goals?

Question 3

When programming, what do you want to do the most?

Answer 3

Over communicate! Where do you feel it, worst pain areas, stay in neutral position, “I am driving blind…” need them to comm. with you

Question 4

Dermatome: anterior thighs and low back are on the same dermatome, Pt is scared by they only feel stim in anterior thighs but pain is low back… what do you say?

Answer 4

Thighs have really big nerve roots that are much easier to stimulate, but the good news is that means we are in the right dermatome. Those nerve fibers are in the same place as your low back nerve fibers, the low back is just a little harder to reach bc they are less dense than the thigh fibers.