Pain after surgery is normal. It will usually improve as your tissues heal. Pain relief after surgery not only alleviates pain, but also speeds up your recovery and minimises post-op risks. It also enables you to do things such as exercise and sleep well that quicken your recovery and improve your mood.
There are many types of pain relief. You should discuss your pain and your pain relief options with your doctor, anaesthetist or pain management consultant.
Types of pain relief after surgery include:
After minor surgery, it is likely that you will take oral pain medications before leaving the hospital and when you go home to manage your pain. You may take a combination of paracetamol, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen, and weak opioids.
After major surgery, pain relief may be in the form of:
Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is the most common intravenous delivery of pain relief. You have a pump with a button to press which releases a small dose of the painkillers as and when you require. You cannot overdose as it will only allow you so much medication, no matter how often you press the button.
Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) is similar to PCA. It enables you to give yourself a dose of pain medication by pushing a button. It also has a built-in safeguard to prevent you from giving yourself too much medication.
The best type and dose of painkillers after surgery will depend on the operation you have had and how much pain you are feeling. You should discuss this with your doctor, anaesthetist or pain medicine consultant to develop the best plan for you.
There are many ways to control pain after surgery. As well as taking pain-relieving medicines there are many non-drug treatments to help manage your pain and boost the pain-relief effects of drugs.
They include:
The length of time post-surgery pain lasts varies for everyone. Different operations and injuries result in different durations of pain. You should ask your doctor how long your post-op pain is likely to last. Having an idea of how long your pain may last will help you to plan ahead.
Typically, post-surgery pain will gradually reduce as your body recovers. You should also reduce the amount of pain relief too. You should stop taking your pain relief when you no longer feel discomfort.
Everyone’s recovery after surgery with pain relief is different. It will depend on the exact surgery you have had, the type of pain relief you are using, and your general health.
In general, you should reduce your pain relief as you start to recover from your surgery. If you are using powerful pain medications you may transfer to weaker pain medications. Typically, patients end up using simple painkillers when their pain has reduced significantly.
You should speak with your doctor, anaesthetist or pain management consultant to find out about your specific recovery process and if you want to reduce or change your pain relief medication.
The cost of pain relief after surgery will depend on: the exact pain relief medications prescribed; your surgical procedure; and your Ramsay hospital of choice.
Following a consultation with one of our expert surgeons, you will receive a formal quotation price for your surgery that includes your take-home drugs for up to 10 days. You should receive a quote for your pain relief after surgery if it is further required.
Pain relief after surgery may be covered by health insurance for medically necessary procedures. You should check your level of cover and get written confirmation from your insurance provider prior to starting your treatment.
Good pain relief after surgery can successfully control your post-op pain, help your body to recover quicker, and reduce the chances of complications including chest infections, pneumonia and blood clots.
Managing your pain will also allow you to do rehabilitation activities to improve your mobility, promote healing, reduce further pain, and enhance your well-being.
Expert Ramsay anaesthetists and pain management consultants will discuss your pain relief options after surgery. They are highly experienced and qualified to recommend and administer the best pain relief options tailored to your specific needs. They will work with you to relieve your pain so that you can recover quickly and reduce your chances of post-surgical complications.
When visiting your local Ramsay Health Care hospital, you can rest-assured strict infection control protocols are adhered to, to minimise the risk of infection, including Covid-19.
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Find out moreA local anaesthetic is a drug that is injected into the tissues to make them numb.
A general anaesthetic is a combination of drugs that causes deep sleep.
A spinal anaesthetic invloves injecting drugs into an area near the spinal cord.
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