How to Control Pain After Surgery
It is quite common to experience pain after a surgery. Some people have mild pain while others have severe discomfort. You may experience muscle pain, throat pain and/or movement pain after surgery. Although the pain can be unpleasant, it is a part of the healing process. The most important factor is learning how to control the pain. Luckily, there are several ways to help you control the pain.
Instructions
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Talk to your doctor before the surgery and prepare yourself for the pain. Your doctor can give you specific details about the surgery and let you know what kind of pain to expect.
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Take your pain medicine after the surgery. Your doctor will give you the appropriate pain medicine to take based upon your level of pain. There are several different types of pain medications such as NSAIDS's (aspirin and ibuprofen), anti-inflammatory drugs, non-steroidal pills, opioids (morphine and codeine), local anesthetics and nerve blocks.
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Measure your pain frequently. Your doctor and nurse may ask you to rate your pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 10 being the worst. This information tells them if your current medication is working and whether or not they need to make an adjustment.
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Use heat or cold therapy to ease the pain. Depending on the type of surgery that you actually had, you may be able to use certain items such as a heating pad or ice, to help control the pain.
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Listen to relaxation tapes or soft music. This can help create calm and peaceful images in your mind, which helps you to forget about the pain. Do this twice daily during the entire recovery period.
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Wear comfortable clothing. You should dress in loose-fitting attire while you are recovering from your surgery.
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Get plenty of rest. You should use pillows to support yourself when you sleep and be sure to sleep in a comfortable position.
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Tips & Warnings
You should begin walking and moving around as soon as possible. Movement allows your body to heal faster and helps you to breathe a lot easier too. Your doctor should let you know when it is okay for you to begin walking.
Be honest with your doctor and nurses about the pain that you are experiencing. You should inform them about any side effects that you may have from your medication.
Do not drive a vehicle until your doctor says it is okay to do so.
Certain pain treatments can cause side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, itching and vomiting.
