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 they will have pain. How much pain you will have, and how long it will last, 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 you are as comfortable as possible after 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 or heat (if your doctor suggested this)

●Keeping the painful part protected and elevated

●Relaxation exercises or meditation

Doing these things can help reduce how much 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 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 in or near the area where you had surgery.

•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 the back, near the nerves in the spine. An epidural is sometimes used when people will stay in the hospital after surgery. It can used during surgery, then left in to give pain medicines while in the hospital.

●Pain medicines given through a thin tube that goes in a vein, called an IV, or taken by mouth (as pills or liquids) – Pain medicines include:

•Acetaminophen, also called paracetamol (sample brand name: Tylenol)

•NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve)

•Opioid medicines – Opioids are a group of prescription medicines that relieve pain. They are sometimes used when other types of pain medicine do not help enough. But they come with risks. For this reason, doctors often try other ways of treating pain first.

For severe pain while you are in the hospital, the medicine might be given IV in a pump that lets you 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 are getting, 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 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 surgery. They might give you a prescription for pain medicines to take after you go home.

To take your medicine safely:

●Take only the amount of medicine your doctor prescribes, and only as often as they tell you to.

●If your doctor prescribed an opioid medicine:

•Stop taking the medicine as soon as your pain gets better – For some opioids, you might need to reduce the dose gradually. You can continue taking other pain medicines while you are stopping the opioid.

•Get rid of any leftover opioids – Do not throw these away in the regular trash. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can suggest ways 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 come with serious risks. If you take too much, or take opioids with alcohol or certain other drugs, it can cause serious harm. It can even cause death from overdose. Some people can also get addicted to them.

When should I call the doctor? — 

After going home, call your doctor or nurse if:

●Your medicine is causing side effects that bother you.

●You have questions about how to take your medicine.

●You have trouble managing your pain.

More on this topic

Patient education: Managing acute pain at home (The Basics)
Patient education: Taking opioids safely (The Basics)
Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (The Basics)
Patient education: Nerve blocks (The Basics)
Patient education: Patient-controlled analgesia (The Basics)
Patient education: Continuous infusion pain pump (The Basics)
Patient education: Cold therapy for pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Questions to ask if you are having surgery or a procedure (The Basics)
Patient education: Going home from the hospital (The Basics)

Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Beyond the Basics)