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It is very normal to feel pain after surgery. Your doctor will give you drugs to help ease the pain. You may feel pain at the site of the surgery, or pain when you move. You may also feel joint pain or muscle pain. It will depend on what type of surgery you have had. People feel pain in different ways. Talk to your doctor about any pain you have. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Follow your doctors orders.
- Keep up with your pain drugs right after surgery. This is when your pain will most often be the strongest. If you skip doses, the pain can get very bad and is harder to get under control.
- Take all your drugs as directed by your doctor. Tell your doctor about any problems with your drugs. These may include feeling sleepy or sick.
- Use crutches, canes, and other walking aids after surgery on legs or feet. This will reduce pressure on those parts. Wear special stockings to prevent blood clots.
- Get lots of rest and sleep. Take naps often during the day.
- Keep doing your coughing and breathing exercises.
- Keep calm. Anxiety makes pain much worse. Let a family member or friend know when you are in a lot of pain. They may be able to help.
- Other ways to help your pain:
- Use a pillow to support your belly or chest wound when you cough or sneeze.
- Raise your wound above the level of your heart if you can.
- Ask your doctor about using an elastic bandage. This keeps the injured part of your body from moving and adds support. If you have belly surgery, ask your doctor about using a binder to support your belly after surgery.
- Ice and heat may be used to ease pain and help with swelling from muscle pain. Do not keep ice on fingers or toes so there is not a chance for frostbite.
- You may use other methods to relieve pain, such as massage or breathing exercises, imaging, and music therapy.
- Keep a diary of your pain. Share this information with your doctor on your follow-up visits:
- How often the pain happens
- If anything brings it on
- What the pain feels like, such as throbbing, pricking, dull ache, cramping, burning, stabbing
- If the pain spreads and to what part of the body
- How you feel after taking drugs for pain
- Any side effects from the pain drugs
What follow-up care is needed?
- The doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If the pain is worse or comes more often, call the doctor right away.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs like: ‚
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for swelling and pain. These are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). They help with mild to medium pain.
- Opiates such as morphine for very bad pain
- Local pain killers. These are injected near the wound. They block the pain around the wound. These drugs numb the area for a bit after the surgery to lessen pain.
- Pain blocks for legs, arms, or shoulder before surgery. These blocks also help you with pain after surgery and lessen the amount of anesthesia needed during surgery. Blocks placed in the back can also lessen pain after belly and hip surgery.
Will physical activity be limited?
The pain may make you stay in bed. You may feel tired and not able to do your usual activities. You may have to limit your activities. ‚
- Do not drive or use machines while taking strong drugs for pain.
- Do light activities and exercise. Slowly increase what you are doing. Ask your doctor what exercise is safe for you. Walking can help reduce gas pain and prevent blood clots.
- If possible, ask for help for the first few days after surgery at home.
- Ask your doctor when you can return to work.
What changes to diet are needed?
- You may have upset stomach or throwing up after surgery. Eat a clear liquid diet like water, soda, soup, and juices. Eat light foods like toast or crackers. Taking your drugs with food can help.
- Eat small meals more often and drink lots of fluids.
- Avoid spicy, fatty foods, and dairy foods. They may make you feel sick.
- Avoid beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol). These can affect the drugs you are taking.
What problems could happen?
Your healing could be slowed by pain. Try to take your drugs for pain on a regular schedule, especially for the first few days. It is tough to get rid of pain. It is easier to prevent pain. ‚
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
Pain is likely to happen after surgery. Helpful tips: ‚
- Make sure to ask when you need to take your pain drugs. Take drugs as directed by your doctor.
- Be sure to follow proper wound care.
- Do the right activities for you.
- Follow your doctors instructions exactly.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Pain drugs do not relieve pain
- Increased upset stomach and throwing up
- Hard stools
- Skin rash
- Trouble passing urine
- Trouble breathing
- Coughing up mucus that is yellow or green in color
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my pain.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have very hard stools or my pain drugs do not relieve my pain.
Where can I learn more?
FamilyDoctor.org ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/drugs-procedures-devices/prescription-medicines/pain-control-after-surgery-pain-medicines.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚