Post-Surgical Pain – What you Should Know
Getting the news that you need surgery is not something anyone wants to hear. It can cause a variety of fears or questions to set in about the seriousness of your condition, the surgery itself and the outcome after it’s all over. On top of that, there is the thought of post-surgery pain—how uncomfortable will I be and for how long?
Some pain is inevitable when you undergo any form of surgery, but the good news is that there are many highly effective pain management techniques to keep your post-surgery pain under control. Here at the Carolina Pain Consultants, we want to ensure you get the best possible treatment for your postoperative pain. Read on to learn about managing pain after surgery!
Start Prior to Surgery
Dealing with postoperative pain needs to begin before the procedure takes place. Our pain management doctors in Asheville always talk with you one-on-one well before your surgery to ensure all of your questions are answered. We also want to make sure that you are in full understanding of how to minimize pain after the operation. Here are just a few items we recommend discussing with your doctor prior to undergoing surgery:
Plan for aftercare: Ask your doctor to help you develop a plan for when you go home. A successful recovery is vital to every surgery patient, so It’s smart to learn as much as you can about how to take care of yourself when you get home. Will you need to take medication? Do you need to rest for a certain number of hours per day? Do you need a family member to help you throughout the day?
What to expect: Your surgeon should address how much pain you should expect and how long it will last. While everyone will handle operations differently, this information from your doctor will help you feel less anxious and more prepared for the experience you’re about to go through.
Mediation side-effects: If you will be given pain medications, always ask and be aware of the potential side-effects. Opioids are a commonly used class of drug for post-surgery that can have major side-effects. Check out our blog post of taking pain medications safely right here.
Types of Pain
Depending on the type of surgery you receive, postoperative pain can be all across the board. For minimally invasive surgeries, you might be back to your regular self in a day or two, while a major surgery may require more down-time and easing your way back into everyday activities. It’s a common misconception that pain is only felt in the surgical area. Many times, post-surgery patients will notice pain or stiffness in other areas of the body:
Muscle Pain: Pain felt in the neck, shoulders, chest or back is common from lying on an operating table.
Movement Pain: Simple body movements like walking, sitting up and even sneezing or coughing can increase pain around your incision site.
Sore Throat: The use of endotracheal tubes during surgery can cause irritation to the throat, vocal cords and tongue post-surgery.
Pain Control After Surgery
Post-surgical pain is not something to overlook. It’s important to treat pain correctly from the very beginning so it doesn’t turn into something more challenging to manage—it can even turn into chronic pain. Be sure to follow the instructions provided to you by your health care team. This will make your recovery time faster and as pain-free as possible. Common surgery aftercare items include:
Get adequate rest
Hydrate
Eat well
Use of ice packs
Rehabilitative exercises
Topical wound care
Take medications consistently and as directed
Pain Care Clinic in Asheville NC - Carolina Pain Consultants
Here at the Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas, we make every effort to keep you confident and comfortable with every stage of your treatment. Call today to schedule an appointment and speak with a specialist about your pain concerns.
Get in touch with us by calling 828-483-4438
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