Patient education: Managing pain after surgery (The Basics)

How will I feel after surgery? — If you're having surgery, you might wonder how you're going to feel after. Many people worry that they will have pain. How much pain you have, and how long it lasts, depends partly on what type of surgery you are having. For example, you might have less pain after a minor surgery (like having a skin growth removed) and more pain after a major surgery (like a joint replacement).

How you feel after surgery also depends on your age and health.

Your doctors and nurses will work together to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible after your surgery.

Are there ways to manage pain besides medicine? — Yes. Medicine is an important part of pain management. But there are other things you can do, too. They include:

●Rest

●Using cold on the painful part

●Keeping the painful part protected and elevated

●Relaxation exercises or meditation

Doing these things can help reduce the amount of pain medicine you need.

How will my pain be managed? — Your doctor will work with you to make a plan. The goal is to get your pain to a manageable level after your surgery. It is not always possible to avoid all pain.

Different medicines can be used to manage pain. Often, more than 1 type of medicine is used. Your medical team will check your pain level frequently to make changes as needed.

Ways to manage pain include:

●Local anesthetics – These are medicines that numb the painful part of the body. For example:

•The surgeon might inject numbing medicines where they cut into your skin.

•A "nerve block" is when numbing medicine is injected near certain nerves, which reduces pain in the area. Sometimes, the medicine is given through a small tube called a "catheter." It attaches to a pump that can continue to give medicine after going home from the hospital.

•An "epidural" is a small tube that goes into your back, near the nerves in your spine. Epidurals are used for patients who are staying in the hospital after surgery. It can used during surgery, then left in to give pain medicines while you are in the hospital.

●Pain medicines given by IV or orally – An IV is a thin tube that goes into a vein. "Oral" medicines are taken by mouth, and might come as pills or liquids.

Pain medicines include:

•Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol

•Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs ("NSAIDs")

•Opioid medicines – Opioids are a group of strong medicines that relieve pain. For severe pain while you are in the hospital, the medicine might be given IV in a pump that allows you to press a button to get a dose when you need it (figure 1). The pump is programmed to give you the right amount of medicine, and prevents you from taking too much.

•Other medicines – Depending on your situation and the type of surgery you need, your doctor might give you other medicines.

How long will I have pain? — It depends:

●After minor surgery, you might feel fine a few hours after.

●After major surgery, you might need pain medicine for days or even weeks.

Your doctor or nurse will work with you to make sure that your pain is treated properly.

What will happen after I go home from the hospital? — Your doctor will tell you what kind of pain to expect after your surgery. They might give you a prescription for pain medicines to take after you go home.

To take your medicine safely:

●Only take the amount your doctor or nurse tells you to.

●Stop taking the medicine as soon as your pain gets better.

●Throw away any leftover medicines correctly – Some medicines should not be thrown away in the regular trash. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can tell you how to get rid of them.

It's important to take your pain medicines exactly how the doctor or nurse tells you to. Taking too much of any medicine can be dangerous. In particular, opioids can cause serious problems if you take too much or mix them with other medicines. Some people can also become addicted to them.

More on this topic

Patient education: Anesthesia (The Basics)
Patient education: Questions to ask if you are having surgery or a procedure (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing acute pain at home (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgery to fix a broken bone (The Basics)
Patient education: Patient-controlled analgesia (The Basics)