pain after surgery

Being told by your doctor that you will be going under the knife is scary, and having the thought of the aftermath of the surgery is another nightmare. It is no surprise that pain after surgery is common, especially after the anesthesia wears off.  After any surgery, one tends to feel unpleasant sensations resulting from the procedure caused by the damage on the tissue where surgery has been done. That is why most surgeons prescribe post surgery medication to their patients immediately after the operation, like breast augmentation.


Common types of pain resulting from surgery

There are different pains resulting from surgery and all are not the same. This includes;
• Nociceptive pain: this is the type of pain experienced by most people and it is caused by damage to the tissue such as the skin, bone organ or the muscle. This type of pain can be superficial which includes bruises, cuts or burns, deep pain resulting from damage of ligaments, muscles or bones and visceral pain that is known to originate from internal organs.
• Neuropathic pain: this type of pain is known to be caused by the damage done to the nerve cells. This can include the peripheral neuropathic pain originating from damaged nerves of the arms or legs and also the central neuropathic pain that is caused by damaged nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord.
• Phantom pain: this type of pain is a result of some part of the body part being removed or amputated.
Regardless of the origin of the pain, all pain after surgery needs to be treated because this can ease your healing process and reduce the uncomfortable sensations resulting from the pain. Depending on the type of surgery and the pain experienced, one may receive different pain treatment options.

Available pain treatment options

• Nerve blocks

This is preferred in treating pain resulting from damage on a nerve and they help in controlling pain in a small area of the body. It allows a controlled amount of medication to the damaged area and thus reducing the associated side effects of the medication.

• pain after surgery optionOral medications

This is medications taken through the mouth to control pain and are taken depending on the prescription given by your doctor. This includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.


• Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)

This uses a pump that pushes a small amount of medication into your body via the arm. It involves connecting a tube into the vein of your hand and allows you to pump a fixed amount of painkiller into your body whenever you experience pain.

• Patient-controlled epidural analgesia

This involves inserting an epidural catheter into the epidural space at your back and using a pump, medication is infused into your system. This pain control option is usually effective when compared with the PCA.


• Non-medication pain relieving option

This involves the use of heating pads, listening to some soft music and massage. This help in relaxing the body thus reducing pain. Contact Wayne Massage in Sydney today to help you relax and find relief for your pain.

Despite the benefits of these medications, they also have some side effects that include nausea, vomiting, liver and kidney damage that need to be taken into consideration before you decide on the treatment option.