06 Nov Post-Surgery Pain Management & Ways to Recover Healthily
Well done! You have successfully completed your surgery, and the hardest part is now behind you. However, it is important to now shift your focus towards healing your body and managing the pain that often accompanies recovery. After surgery, patients may experience pain, soreness, or discomfort as their body heals.
“Pain as a friend warns of impending damage and protects the body from injury.” – Fernando Cervero, Anaesthesia Research Unit, McGill University
Pain after surgery is normal. It can be due to inflammation, nerve damage, or even tissue trauma. Pain can vary widely—some may feel a stabbing sensation, while others might experience cramping. For some, the pain may be constant, while for others, it comes and goes. Pain may be categorised as mild, moderate or severe. That said, early intervention in pain management plays an important part in the recovery process, both for the mental and physical well-being, to ensure long-term recovery and in preventing interference with mobility, sleep and rehabilitation.
Let us guide you through the steps of effective pain management and healthy recovery.
What is Post-Surgical Pain
There are two types of post-surgical pain. Nearly 20% of patients experience severe pain in the first 24 hours after surgery. If pain is left unmanaged, it may affect a patient’s quality of life, along with other negative impacts such as sleeplessness and other mental and emotional health issues (Canadian Pain Task Force Report, 2019).
Acute Pain: When there is a known cause for the pain, i.e., surgery, it is known as acute pain. Acute pain causes patients to avoid moving too much. However, this might lead to other complications such as stiff joints and muscles, constipation, and blood clots in your legs (deep vein thrombosis).
Chronic Pain: Sometimes acute pain turns into chronic pain when the pain continues to become longer-term and persistent.
Medication for Pain Management
The most common way to relieve pain is either taking over-the-counter (OTC) medication or prescription drugs. OTC medication such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and ponstan are used to manage mild to moderate pain. Non-opioid options include nerve blocks, anaesthetic patches or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) while stronger options contain opioids such as morphine or codeine.
Some patients also use TCM (Traditional and Complementary Methods) such as Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic and other natural remedies. However, they should always check with their doctors to see if these alternative methods contradict or interfere with their existing treatment.
Balancing Rest and Rehabilitative Exercises
Needless to say, sufficient rest is indeed essential for full recovery, but so are rehabilitative exercises. The trick here is to have a balanced schedule between rest and exercise to prevent stiffness, muscle atrophy and deep vein thrombosis which may occur due to being immobile for extended periods.
To have proper and quality rest, establish a sleep routine along with the use of proper bedding and comfortable pillows. During waking hours, supportive or ergonomic chairs, comfortable clothing and footwear will all make a difference.
As the body regains strength, you may be assigned to a physiotherapist to assist with mobility and flexibility. Starting with gentle and low-impact exercises such as walking, gentle stretching and strengthening routines, these exercises are specially designed for each patient. Sometimes, patients are taught simple breathing exercises to improve lung function— the use of apparatuses may be required but it is a fun activity!
If you are doing exercises yourself at home, be sure not to overstrain yourself and to get your doctor or therapist’s advice before doing anything strenuous. It is also important to monitor your activity levels and to gradually increase movements rather than pushing yourself too hard. A little tender loving care goes a long way.
Managing Post-Surgical Pain Naturally
Besides rest and exercise, there are several other things that patients may do to assist in their recovery. First and foremost, be patient—your body needs time to heal. Other than try to be in a relaxed environment and keep a positive outlook. Listening to soothing music and deep breathing can also be a great help.
Meanwhile, if there is pain, using cold compress or heat packs may also help with reducing swelling. The use of cold compresses or heat packs depends on the type of injury or discomfort you’re-treating. As a general rule, apply cold for post-surgery swelling, to reduce the inflammation and constrict the blood vessels; and use heat packs for muscle tension, spasms or back pain by increasing blood flow to the area.
A gentle massage sometimes does wonders too, as does acupuncture and meditation, for some.
Lifestyle Adjustments for Helpful Pain Management
Lifestyle adjustments are part and parcel of post-operative healing. Ensure that you maintain a healthy diet that is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals that are vital for tissue
repair, and consume anti-inflammatory foods such as leafy greens, berries and fish that are rich in omega fats. Of course, keep your H2O close and stay hydrated all the time.
Recognising Complications and When to Seek Help
Lastly, reach out for help when needed, especially if there are signs of complications that indicate infection such as increased pain, fever, recurrence of swelling and any other symptoms that may require attention. If the pain management methods are not effective, your doctor must know about it so that you can revise your pain management plans.
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of keeping open communications with your healthcare providers during recovery. If you sometimes feel overwhelmed or frustrated during your recovery process, know that you are not alone. At Komune Care, our loving, caring, and dedicated staff are ever-willing to be there for you.
“Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.”
When pain persists, it can affect all aspects of one’s life and may lead to a diminished quality of life and even isolation. So, recognise the signs early and ensure that you have a support system of family, friends and healthcare professionals to help you through this transitional period. All of us are humans who need emotional warmth and meaningful connections with other people.
That said, you may want to keep several emergency contacts on speed dial too. Everybody needs help at some point or another. Never feel shy or burdensome about reaching out for assistance. People are always ready and willing to help you with anything at all. Have you decided what you can do to help manage your pain? Are you mentally ready to begin your journey to recovery?
Get well soon!
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
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