Overview:
Post-Surgery Pain Relief in Austin, TX
PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR POST-OPERATIVE PAIN CAN INVOLVE MULTIPLE PAIN MEDICATIONS OR ANALGESICS, NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS, AND LOCAL ANESTHETICS.
Approximately 86% of patients who undergo some form of surgery in the U.S. report post-surgery or post-operative pain each year.
Post-surgery pain varies widely and includes sensations ranging from throbbing to sharp, often disrupting daily activities. Even with the help of medication, the presence of pain can make the recovery process difficult. Factors like individual pain tolerance and the nature of the procedure influence its intensity and duration.
Doctors specializing in post-surgical pain at Advanced Pain Care play a crucial role in helping patients in their recovery journey. We keep a close eye on how patients are feeling, check for any issues, and pivot treatment plans as needed.
Discover post-surgery pain relief with Advanced Pain Care. We’re committed to providing you with personalized care and treatment. Book your consultation with us today to learn how our specialized post-surgery pain management can help you!
Some Common Causes of Post-Surgery Pain
After any surgery or procedure, most patients will experience some sort of pain. Ideally, post-surgical pain is anticipated, and your physician/surgeon should provide options to manage any post-operative, acute pain. This pain is usually triggered by incision wounds, burns due to grafting, damage or disruption of internal organs, nerve damage, and/or tissue damage. Post-surgery pain should be temporary (only lasting 2 to 5 days), and medication is usually sufficient to effectively manage post-surgery pain.
Types of Post-Surgery Pain
Post-surgery pain can be classified as –
Neuropathic pain
Damage to nerve cells during surgery can cause neuropathic pain. Damage to the brain or spinal cord specifically can cause central neuropathic pain. Some patients may experience pain in the hands and feet, this type of pain is typically referred to as peripheral neuropathic pain.
Referred Pain
“Referred Pain” is pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus. This is due to the network of interconnecting nerves between many different tissues.
Phantom limb pain
This type of post-operative pain occurs when a patient continues to feel pain in a part of the body that has been amputated. For example, the patient might feel severe pain in a leg despite the leg being removed during surgery.
Nociceptive pain
Nociceptive pain is acute pain experienced when tissue is damaged during surgery. This is the most common type of post-surgery pain, which subsides automatically as the region of the surgery begins to heal.
Nociceptive pain can be further classified as:
- Superficial somatic pain — Pain from superficial wounds (such as cuts, burns, or bruises on the skin) typically due to surgical incisions or grafting.
- Deep somatic pain — Pain caused when an incision cuts through internal tissue, tendon, ligament, or muscle.
- Visceral pain — Pain caused by cutting an internal organ.
When Should You See Our Doctor?
Pain after surgery is anticipated and normal. Common symptoms indicative of post-operative pain can include:
- Dehiscence or a break or separation in the surgical wound site
- Swelling around the surgery site(s)
- Soreness
- Constipation
- Fever
- Flatulence
- Nausea and/or vomiting
In some cases, complications such as a hemorrhage(s), wound site infection, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, urinary retention, adverse reactions to anesthetics, and pulmonary complications may arise. Signs of these complications may include:
- Mild to moderate pain at the incision or procedure site
- Accumulation of pus in the affected areas
- Collection of blood under the skin
- Swelling
- Change in bowel movements
- Formation of fistulas
- Weight loss
- Chest pain
Some symptoms can be very serious and require immediate medical attention. If you experience any of the following after surgery, please visit an emergency room as soon as possible.
- Persistently high fever
- Unbearable pain
- Confusion
- Shortness of breath
- Bleeding
- Lethargy
Diagnosis & Treatment of Post-Surgical Pain at Advanced Pain Care Clinic
Post-operative Pain Evaluation
If you are experiencing pain after the surgery and multimodal treatments (including pain medications) are not providing effective pain relief, consult your surgeon or physician immediately. To assist with your post-surgery pain management, your physician should ask you for the following information to describe the pain:
- Type of pain experienced – stabbing, sharp, burning, throbbing, etc.
- Movements or postures that increase the pain
- If the pain radiates to other locations
- Inability to perform daily functions
- Location of the pain
- Duration of the pain
- Severity of the pain
To evaluate your pain condition and determine an accurate diagnosis and post-surgical pain treatment, our team of specialists at Advanced Pain Care will review and examine the following areas:
- Physical examination of the site of the surgery
- Past medical history and surgical history
- History of medications
The physician may also ask for specific tests to check for signs of infection, bleeding, accumulation of fluids, etc. These can include blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, and/or sonograms.
Post-operative Pain Treatment
Before surgery, your physician at Advanced Pain Care will guide you through the process of your surgery, pre-operative tips, and post-surgical pain management guidelines. Some of these guidelines may include:
- Pain management medications and procedures that will be implemented after the surgery
- Expectations regarding the type and amount of pain after different types of surgeries
- Possible side effects of pain medications and/or integrated pain management techniques
- Possible complications/reactions with existing medications
- Managing conditions that may increase the likelihood of post-surgical pain
- The post-surgical recovery process
- Managing post-surgical anxiety
Post-surgical pain treatment and management comprises multiple pain-relieving medications or analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and/or local anesthetics. To reduce the amount and variety of pain after surgery, your surgeon at Advanced Pain Care will also take steps to manage the pain during the surgery itself. This can include delivery of pain management medications like:
- Intravenous pain medication
- Patient-controlled analgesia
- Epidural analgesia
- Spinal analgesia
- Wound infiltration analgesia
- Nerve blocks
Along with switching to oral pain medications after surgery, your surgeon will also recommend general post-surgical care instructions such as the application of ice, rest, elevation, wound care, and rehabilitation.
If the pain persists, your doctor may change/revise medication, post-surgery pain treatment, and rehabilitation instructions. If the pain persists for more than 2 months, you may be referred to a pain management specialist at Advanced Pain Care for further examination and treatment.
To effectively manage and treat chronic post-operative pain, pain management and pain medicine specialists treat the condition through a multimodal treatment plan which can include:
- Pain medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants, and nerve blocks
- Structured rehabilitation and therapy programs
- Treatment of associated health conditions
Patient Testimonials
“They are very concerned, all the staff. I love Dr. Ximenes, and Reagan makes you feel right at home and very friendly. She is just lovely. They have been there to help me in every way so far. It has all been good. Kimberly and Jordan are very sweet and help me in every way“
— Jewell Hart
“I have been to a couple of different doctors and Advanced Pain Care is by far the best. I would highly recommend Advanced pain care for any of your pain management needs. Doctor Paterno Came into the room and was extremely professional. He talked to me about several different options. And I could honestly say he cared about how I felt. If I could give more stars on the review I would. Thank you Advanced Pain Care for your professionalism And for making sure that I am taken care of. Y’all are awesome. Thank you“
— Curtis Ball
When Post-Operative Pain Transitions from Acute to Chronic Pain
Post-surgery pain is a common type of acute pain that refers to pain in the body after any major surgery. It can occur as “generalized” pain (all over the body) or “localized” pain (affecting specific parts of the body) after surgery. Post-operative pain is almost always accompanied by other symptoms, such as:
- Insomnia
- Extreme sweating or lack of sweating
- Pain in joints and muscles
- Pain in the head and limbs
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
This type of pain may be acute the first 1 or 2 days after surgery as approximately 30% of patients will experience severe pain in the first 24 hours after even minor surgery. Interventional pain management is sufficient for ensuring post-surgery pain relief using medications, long-lasting local anesthetics, and pre-operative counseling.
In approximately 10% of patients, acute post-surgery pain evolves into a chronic pain condition.
Factors That Increase the Risk of Post-Surgery Pain
Acute and chronic post-operative pain can increase based on certain risk factors, genetic markers, and/or pre-existing medical factors.
Some of the common risk factors for post-surgery pain are:
- Pre-existing medical conditions such as fibromyalgia, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and Raynaud’s syndrome
- Pre-existing nerve conditions such as peripheral neuropathy
- Autoimmune diseases
- Increasing age
- Intensity of the acute postoperative pain
- Pre-existing chronic pain conditions
- Pain threshold and coping abilities
- Psychological distress
- Type of surgery
- Sleep disorders
How Can Post-Surgical Pain Be Prevented?
Post-surgery pain is an expected condition. Simple guidelines and instructions from your doctor can usually manage the pain effectively while helping your body to heal. You can often reduce postoperative pain by following these guidelines:
Get Relief from Post-Operative Pain with Advanced Pain Care Specialists in Austin, TX
It’s normal to feel pain after surgery, but having it for a long time isn’t usual. At Advanced Pain Care, our team of surgeons, doctors, and pain specialists all work together to provide you with the best post-surgical pain treatment using different methods. Whether it’s dealing with tissue damage, discomfort from stitches, or handling the effects of surgery, we’re here to make sure you feel as comfortable as possible during your recovery.
With 14 locations across Texas, we’re conveniently situated to provide our comprehensive pain management services. You can visit us or give us a call at 512.244.4272 to make an appointment and find out more about how we manage post-surgery pain.
FAQS
Q: How long does post-surgical pain last?
A: After surgery, it’s common to experience pain from various factors like tissue inflamation from the incision, wound closure, or other factors. Our experts help you have a healthy, effective, and quicker recovery with thorough diagnosis and treatment.
Q: When should you be concerned about your post-surgery pain?
A: If your post-operative pain is severe, lasting, or comes with fever or unusual swelling, see a doctor right away. Advanced Pain Care offers personalized treatment for post-surgery pain relief, to help you effectively understand and deal with all surgery-related pain symptoms.
Q: How to differentiate between normal post-surgery pain and something more serious?
A: To tell if your post-surgical pain is normal or serious, keep an eye on how strong it is, how long it lasts, and any other symptoms. Consult with Advanced Pain Care for expert guidance on managing post-surgery pain management and treatment.
Q: Are there specific activities you should avoid to prevent exacerbating post-surgery pain?
A: To stop making your post-surgery pain worse, avoid activities that strain the surgery area, stick to movement limits your doctor gives you, and follow their pain relief plan carefully. Advance Pain Care provides comprehensive post-surgical pain management strategies to minimize discomfort.
