Managing Pain After Your Surgery: Tips and Strategies for Effective Pain Relief
Managing Pain After Your Surgery: Tips and Strategies for Effective Pain Relief
Managing Pain After Surgery
Surgery and pain pills used to go hand in hand.
After all, you need a strong prescription pain medication to ensure you aren’t in pain after a procedure, right? Turns out not only is prescription pain medication not always needed, but often not advisable after surgery, because it can raise the risk of opioid addiction.
As a result, surgeons today are rethinking post-surgical pain management strategies. And if you’re going under the knife, you should too.
In the 1990s, the number of opioid prescriptions written for people undergoing surgery or experiencing pain conditions grew — and so did related problems.
As a result, “We are in a current opioid epidemic, with 91 substance-related deaths each day, according to the CDC,” says Dr. Elizabeth Matzkin, an orthopedic surgeon and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.
This is not just a young person’s problem. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that the proportion of older adults who misuse opioids is set to double between 2004 and 2020, from 1.2% to 2.4%. In 2016, more than 500,000 Medicare Part D beneficiaries were given an opioid prescription by their doctor — and the average dose was well above recommended amounts.
Rethinking Pain Management
“Orthopedic surgeons are the third highest prescriber of opioid analgesics in the United States, and we are therefore in a pivotal position to change the current overprescribing patterns for postoperative pain management,” says Dr. Matzkin. Today, surgeons like her are increasingly turning toward non-opioid medications and other options to manage pain. And they’ve also started having more conversations with patients before surgery to come up with safer treatment plans ahead of time.
If you’re scheduled for a surgical procedure, having a plan to control pain after the surgery may help you avoid unnecessary use of opioids.
4 Tips for Effective and Safer Ways to Manage Your Pain
- Avoid opioid pain pills whenever possible. In many cases, non-opioid pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol), will control postsurgical pain if taken as recommended. “We just completed a study of 163 knee arthroscopy patients who were sent home with non-opioid pain management,” says Dr. Matzkin. Based on the findings of this study, 82% of patients who undergo arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (a common knee surgery) or chondroplasty (a procedure to repair cartilage in the knee) can achieve satisfactory pain control with non-opioid pain management.
- Limit opioid medication use. If it is necessary to use an opioid, limit the amount of time you take it, says Dr. Christopher Chiodo, an instructor in orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School. Ideally, you should take it for less than a week — and only when other options won’t work, he says. One way to reduce the amount of opioid medication you are taking is to alternate it with non-opioid treatments, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, if your doctor approves.
- Adjust your expectations. “Orthopedic surgeons are also setting expectations for patients preoperatively. “When people are having surgery, they should expect to have some pain or discomfort,” says Dr. Matzkin. While no one should have to endure excruciating pain, having some pain is okay. “Letting people know that it’s okay to have some pain can actually reduce the amount of pain medications required,” says Dr. Chiodo. Sometimes when people aren’t told to expect some discomfort or pain, they get nervous when they experience it, which leads to more medication use. Think of surgery like you would exercise: you’ll be sore afterward, but you wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) take an opioid pain reliever to address the problem.
- Use nonmedication strategies to manage pain. The key to effective pain management is to use a combination of methods. “If you are having surgery on a lower extremity, elevate it after the procedure. This can help substantially with pain relief, swelling, and wound healing,” says Dr. Chiodo. Icing the area can also help in the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery. But be certain to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully when using ice. It can cause tissue damage if used for too long — particularly in people who have reduced sensation in the area while the anesthetic used during surgery is wearing off.
Have a Pain Management Plan in Place Before Your Procedure
Don’t wait until after surgery to decide what type of pain management you will use. Discuss pain control with your surgeon before your operation, and agree on a course of action ahead of time.
Pain control following surgery is crucial for a speedy recovery and to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia and blood clots. Patients should communicate their experiences of pain to aid in determining the effectiveness of their treatment. Pain may manifest in various forms, encompassing muscle pain, throat soreness, and increased discomfort during movement.
Patients are encouraged to communicate with their healthcare providers about any regular pain medication use or allergies, and to participate in the selection of post-surgical pain management.
Additionally, various pain control treatments may be employed, including patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), patient-controlled epidural analgesia, nerve blocks, and oral pain medications.
Factors associated with pain medication risks and benefits, such as opioids, non-opioid analgesics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), should be reviewed with the medical team. Patients are encouraged to inquire about non-medication-based pain relief techniques, such as guided imagery, relaxation methods, and heat or cold therapy.
Upon returning home, patients should adhere to prescribed pain medication schedules and incorporate alternative pain relief methods as needed. They should also remain proactive in their pain management by communicating with their healthcare providers about their pain experiences and expectations.
Managing Pain After Surgery: Effective Pain Relief Methods
Pain after surgery can be effectively managed with modern pain medicines and anesthesia. Discussing pain relief and pain medicines with your healthcare team before surgery can help you better manage your pain. Key points to discuss include your pain expectations, previous experiences with pain, chronic pain, list of medicines, alcohol and drug use, history of medicine misuse, concerns about side effects, pain management without medicines, and any other concerns you may have.
Pain after surgery is usually managed with a combination of pain medicines including opioids, local anesthetics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and other nonopioid pain relievers. Opioids may or may not be appropriate after surgery, and your surgeon will likely prescribe a combination of treatments to control pain and reduce side effects.
Opioids can have side effects and carry risks, so it’s important to use them carefully. Steps to lower the risks associated with opioids include taking medicines as directed, not drinking alcohol while taking opioids, and storing medicines safely. Pain relief after major surgery can be managed through patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), epidural delivery of pain medication, and other methods.
After minor surgery and during home recovery, oral pain medicines may be prescribed. It’s important to understand the active ingredients in each pain medicine, the appropriate dose, and how often to take it. After surgery, communication with your healthcare team is crucial to assess and adjust the pain management plan. Being honest about the pain you feel and not ignoring side effects are important steps in managing your pain effectively.
In conclusion, managing pain after surgery is a critical aspect of the recovery process. Surgeons are adopting new strategies that prioritize the use of non-opioid medications and alternative pain management methods. Patients are urged to have open discussions with their healthcare providers before surgery to create a pain management plan and set realistic expectations. By following these tips and utilizing a combination of pain relief techniques, individuals can effectively manage pain after surgery and promote a faster and safer recovery process.
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