Restrained in a real medical setting

Plenty of people are restrained in surgery....sometimes even before they are sedated

One of my post surgery reaction in recovery, I was restrained being tied up by my wrists, tied to the side bars of the bed with strips of gauze...

they said I was restless and moving violently, so the best was to tie me up so I wont hurt myself..

maybe they should choose better materials instead of strips of gauze.

not a nice experiecne ...

Most people restrained in surgery is just to prevent injury (rotator cuff injuries, etc), or accidental contamination of the sterile field...a half-awake arm under conscious sedation may feel an itch and try to pull out a angiography catheter, or in my case attempt to remove the endoscope from my throat.

I have been restrained a number of times, but always for those reasons.

However, I worked with a lot of patients who were restrained for the additional reasons of mental-status problems, or in a couple cases, patients with a history of violence against staff. One from a mental hospital who had to have two guards on duty at all times. He was gorked when I worked with him but he had bitten part of a nurses face off once in the past.

A buddy of mine was restrained because he kept trying to pull his catheter out while he was removing from a over dose of muscle relaxers. I know one time when I was younger I had to be restrained by a couple emts because I was fighting them while they were trying to stick me with a iv because I was having a really bad insulin reaction (low blood sugar), too bad it wasn't a sexy female emt doing it among other things.lol! That would definatley be a great situation to be in!

In posts a couple of years ago I related how I was very sick in the hospital with Valley Fever, affecting my lungs, liver, kidney and brain. I was unconscious, semi-conscious for a few days, and needed to be restrained, for my own safety. I don't remember the events of my first being restrained., but when I woke up, I was released for morning care, bathing, & breakfast. Due to discomfort of my catheter, I tried to manipulate it. The nurses were sure I was going to take it out again and put me back into the leather restraints.

Here's the link to my post: http://www.zity.biz/index.php?mx=forum;ox=display;topic=24647.msg236152#msg236152

Oh lizeh93 are you really going to throw that out there and just leave us all hanging? In the stirrups? Please do tell.

Following a bicycle vs. car accident (she ran a stop sign I bounced off hood and A pillar) I was pretty well restrained.

The EMTs thought I had a broken wrist/hand and possible neck injuries. I was put in a cervical collar which was some how attached to a back board type of thing which totally immobilized my shoulders and head. My smashed arm was splinted and fastened to the side of the board at about waist level. My other arm had an IV in it and was strapped to the other side of the board. I got two seat belt type things across my legs one at mid thigh and one across the shins. I've guessed those were to hold me while I was lifted and carried. Even after I was at the ER I was kept that way a while until they did some spinal evaluations and I got x-rays. (For those wondering this was about 15 years ago and I was not injured as badly as they thought. Separated some hand joints but no breaks. No lasting spinal or head trauma but a lot of road rash. The car driver was sited for several traffic violations and her insurance covered my medical and my new bike.)

A few years later I had (unrelated) knee surgery and as I was being prepped one leg was immobilized over top of some triangular like forms using a couple straps. It was to position it for the surgery.

I have seen patients fully restrained especially when it is suspected that they might try and hurt themselves

Nice latex dr what kinda restraints?

Last year I had to have surgery on my right hand. I had carpal tunnel and trigger finger . Basically my ring finger was painfully locking. Anyway the good stuff- I was wheel in to the surgical room and place on the table. Dam it was cold in there . The prep - nurse's slid some sort of surgical dressing over my arm . It had a latex ring that my arm went through. After my entire right hand and arm was cleaned , it was strapped to the table with rubber like straps . The a rubber like tourniquet was placed around my upper arm and inflated . I guess to reduce the blood flow. Well while this was going on the nurse on my left was strapping the left arm down . Why ??? The nurse said to prevent me from moving off the table. Then they draped a green sheet over the lower section and placed nice warm blankets over me . It was very comfy . Then I felt a strap over my ankles and knees. I looked at the nurse who was watching my vitals and said I felt a bit vulnerable being strapped down like this . Her comment back to me was , you're lucky you're awake for this hun! You would never know what we would have done to if you were knock out. I responded... Nice!!! Well the procedure was done in 20 minutes . I didn't feel a thing . The nurses looked at me comfortable strapped on the table and said the surgeons gone ... now we can have our fun ....... NOT!!!! They all giggle as so did I . I was released from my binding and set free. I said I had a great experince and I'll be back the follow week to do it again. They laughed . I must of been the drugs they gave me prior to the surgery prep. Good news ... my hand is back to normal.

I have played in my exam room on a sunday afternoon does that count lol

Looks like I'm going to have to go through hand surgery again . This time on the pointer finger . I ruptured the tendon .Ohh it hurts . I guess I'll get strapped down again. Looking forward to that and not the rehab.

I've had to be held down a few times when I was young. For shots and an IV and I think to draw blood once. No straps just hands. Its scary when you are young.

Real hospitals and operations are my own little PTSD hell.

The most dangeous time is when I'm not quite awake. I am hurting and I know only fight or flight, and yes I get violent.

The last three times I was operated on I have been fully restrained untill I was awake.

Once I'm aware of my surroundings I'm ok.

Had my legs strapped down when I was circumcised at age 13. It was in those leg rest type stirrups.

I was restrained when I had surgery done on my knee. I loved and wish I could experience it again in a medfet setting where I wasnt put out during the procedure

Yes, I was completely immobilised for four days after being involved in an incident. I was also fairly heavily sedated and cold packed, the imtent was to allow swelling on my brain and in my spinal area to subside and I have to say it worked. It was a horrific few days however, fantasy and reality are very far apart!

I was in a severe car accident when I was 18. They restrained me for several hours until they could determine if I had any spinal cord injuries. Luckily I didn't. When I woke up from surgery, my hands were restrained because I had been pulling at my IV's. Once I was awake and aware of my surroundings, I was fine and they released me.

I was in for a tummer removal from my left cheak cinus just below my eye.whilst under anasthetic i came to got of the opp table fighting doctors and theater staff and ran out the theater room,i later woke up in bed with my hands tied to either side of the bed and ankles the same spread eagled and covered in dryed blood.i was given a brilliant bedbath

as thay explained why i was in such a state

I can think about it... i don't even remember one time... that should be a bad experience... but i don't really now

I was restrained during my hernia surgery. Both wrists and a wide strap over my abdomen. They did it as part of the preparation, after I got my epidural. I got a pill to fall asleep, so I can't recall when they unrestrained me, I was woken up on my way back to the ward on the gurney.

I had a basal cell skin cancer removed (Mohs procedure, one slice) from right next to my eyebrow, and the repair surgeon insisted that (a) I be knocked out, and (b) I be restrained "so I wouldn't hit his arm while he was sewing me up". Stupidest thing I ever heard of. General anesthesia has some dangers, and I had had a much bigger post-Mohs repair while semi-conscious under only some nice Valium with no problems. I hated the 2nd plastic surgeon for unnecessarily insisting on knocking me totally out. At least they waited till I was unconscious before strapping me down.

I was only restrained in a dentist's office back years ago before novocaine (sp?) was in general use. That hurt! My wife was restrained in her first gynecological examination when she was 14. The doctor was her mother's doctor. The doc was rough, ergo his demand for the use of restraints on arms and around her hips. Lousy experience for her, especially on the first gynecological examination. She was a virgin and he just used what he wanted as he wanted, including a speculum examination. He used a scalpel to cut into her maidenhead which felt bad, of course, then proceeded with the speculum which also hurt, apparently annoyed at the inconvenience. Never went back - big surprise, huh?

I just recently helped a loved one through removal of their wisdom teeth. Before being anesthetized with an IV, the nurses applied restraints that criss-crossed across the patient's torso and each arm immobilized separately at their side. The left was at the level of the chair with a BP cuff attached and oximeter on a finger. The right arm was elevated above the heart with the IV. The rational provided was that the O2 that would be administered made people's noses itch and the Doctor did not want the patient swatting at their face during the operation.

Unfortunantly, not.

The only time I can recall being restrained, is when I was either 3 or 4 yrs old I cut my leg and had to have stitches. I can remember being held down by my Dad, Granddad, and maybe one or two others. I can't remember much else about the ordeal other than being scared out of my wits. I do remember it as a definite "non-fun" experience. LOL

Thanks for all the replies

I was restrained for my vasectomy. Fantasy dream come true. Each arm was strapped down to an arm board and my legs were strapped down at my ankles. My scrotum was shaved by a male nurse and a gorgeous lady doctor did the vasectomy.

I think that being restrained on a medical table can be quite humbling, especially not knowing what may be done to you next.

I woke up restrained after a very stupid evening in my life that started out with vodka and ended up in the hospital. I am not really sure how long I was conscious before the nurse came in, talked to me, and the restraints were removed.

I was restrained when I had my surgery on my deviated septum. They restrained me in the OR and when I woke up afterwards in recovery they had been removed. but I wish I had stayed awake long enough to feel the restraints better.