Perineural Pain Pump for Leg Surgery

Perineural Pain Pump for Leg Surgery


To help control your pain after surgery, a small tube called a catheter was placed under your skin near your incision. The tube is connected to a pain pump filled with numbing medicine. The medicine numbs the nerves that send pain signals from your leg to your brain, so you have less pain. Perineural means around the nerves.

Your leg may feel numb, and you may not be able to move it until the day after your surgery. Be sure to protect your leg during this time. As the numbness wears off, the medicine from the pump will help control the pain. You can also use the pain medicine ordered by your doctor if needed.

Your pump

  • The pump delivers the numbing medicine at a rate ordered by your doctor. Your pump may also have a button to push for an extra dose to control your pain.
  • The pump will give you numbing medicine over a few days. When it is empty or you are to stop using it, you will remove the tube and throw the tube and the pump away.
  • You will have a small pouch you can wear to hold the pump.

Care of your site

  • A clear dressing is placed over the site to keep it clean and to hold the tube in place.
  • Keep the dressing clean and dry. Do not shower or take a tub bath while you have the tube in place.
  • Take a sponge bath and gently pat the clear dressing if it gets wet.
  • If the tube comes out, do not push it back in because of the risk of infection.

Care of the pump

  • Keep the pump dry.
  • Do not squeeze the pump bulb.
  • Be sure the clamp on the tube near the pump is open.
SHows part of the perineural pain pump for the leg

Common side effect

This medicine may make your leg weak, causing a high risk for falling. Use touch weight bearing on your surgery leg while using the pump and for 3 hours after the pump is removed. This means when you stand or walk, you may only touch the floor for balance with the ball of your foot. 

Leak at the tube site

A small amount of fluid leaking from the tube site is common.

Call your doctor if:

  • The tube comes out of your skin.
  • The fluid leaking is not clear in color.
  • Your dressing is so wet it starts to come off.

When the pump is empty

The pump will get smaller and flatten as it empties. You will be able to feel a hard tube in the middle of the bulb and the bulb looks like a balloon that has lost air.
Remove the tube when the pump is empty, or at bedtime on __________________, whichever comes first.

Removing the tube

  1. Wash your hands well with warm water and soap. Rinse and dry with a clean towel.
  2. Remove the clear dressing by peeling it back from an edge. Loosen it around the site where the tube goes into the skin.
  3. Hold the tube close to the skin and gently pull. The tube should come out easily. The end of the tube should have a colored tip, so you know it is all out. You do not need to cover the site.
  4. Throw the tube, pump, and dressing into a trash bag.
  5. Wash your hands again with warm water and soap.
  6. Check the site the next day. If you have redness, pain, or warmth at the site, call your doctor.
SHows part of the pain pump

Hand shown removing dressing over pain pump tubing

Hand shown pulling tube out of skin in 1 direction
Peel back dressing starting from the edge.Gently pull tube out from your skin.

Call your anesthesia doctor

Call your anesthesia doctor (also called an anesthesiologist) right away if you have any problems with your pump or tube site, or you have any of these signs:

  • Redness or pain at the site where the tube goes into your skin
  • Numbness around your lips
  • Blurred vision or dizziness
  • Ringing in your ears or a metal taste in your mouth

If you had your procedure at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center: Call 614-293-7243 and you will hear, “Please enter ID number to page.” Enter 1084. Another prompt asks you to enter a call back number, followed by a pound sign (#). Enter your area code, phone number, and #. You should get a call back within an hour. If you do not get called back, call 614-293-8000 and ask for the East Hospital nerve catheter pager.


© 2008 - October 4, 2023, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care. For more health information call the Library for Health Information at 614-293-3707 or email: health-info@osu.edu.