Along with giving patients control, the rehab team must make patients comfortable. This hypersensitivity can set up a cycle that slows the healing process. The covers hurt. They can't get comfortable in bed, and they're not sleeping well. Medication can alleviate some of the pain, although not all.
Equipment also can address the problem.
Something as simple as bed cradles, which keep the sheets from touching the feet, can go a long way toward making patients more comfortable. While making patients comfortable is important, managing their fatigue is a challenge, Eagle says. Just brushing their teeth can exhaust patients. That's why the interdisciplinary team must stress the importance of energy conservation and activity planning. Patients must listen to their bodies.