Please note that the following general information applies to most patients having surgery. However, some patients may have specific conditions requiring different treatment. Your anesthesiologist will be able to answer any questions you may have during the preoperative interview. If you wish, you may e-mail your questions to kvega@totalanesthesia.com.

What is pain?
Pain is your body’s way of sending a warning to your brain. Your spinal cord and nerves provide the pathway for messages to travel to and from your brain and the other parts of your body. When there is an injury to your body, nerve cells in your body send messages into your spinal cord and up to your brain. Pain medicines block these messages or reduce their effect on your brain.

Why is it important to treat pain?
Excellent pain control can allow you to enjoy greater comfort while you heal. You may get well faster, since with less pain, you can start walking earlier, do your breathing exercises better, get your strength back faster, and even leave the hospital sooner. People whose pain is well-controlled do better after surgery

Will I have pain after my surgery?
It depends on you, your surgery, and the type of anesthesia and pain relief you are prescribed. While surgical techniques have advanced enormously, people still feel some pain and discomfort after surgery. Each patient will react to surgery and pain in an individual way. The goal of your doctors and nurses is to reduce your pain to a comfortable level. Pain is at its maximum intensity early in the postoperative period and diminishes over the next several days.

What kind of pain will I have?
Different surgical procedures cause different types of pain. Pain is usually close to the site of surgery, can range from mild to intense, and can be described as throbbing, burning or just irritating. It is important that you receive adequate therapy to control your pain to allow you to breathe easily, recover quickly and rest well. Be assured that your doctors and nurses have many techniques to help make you feel better.

How do I communicate my pain to my health care team?
Most patients will be asked to use a pain scale to help describe their pain level, where 0 means no pain and 10 is the worst pain possible. Your answers will help your doctors and nurses to know how well pain relievers are working for you, and what adjustments to your medications are needed. In addition, you may call your nurse at any time to report continued pain. Be sure to tell the doctor or nurse about any constant and unrelieved pain. Your doctors and nurses want and need to know about it.

How will my pain be treated after surgery?
Your anesthesiologist will discuss pain control options with you before you have surgery. Your doctor will choose a method of pain management based on your surgery, your medical history, the amount of pain you might expect and your phase of recovery. Initially in the recovery unit, pain medications will be administered intravenously by the nurse at your bedside. He or she will ask you to use a pain scale and will administer pain medication if it is required. You may receive more pain medication on request, if your medical condition permits.
If you are admitted to the hospital, a popular intravenous method for pain relief is called a PCA, Patient Controlled Analgesia. This apparatus connects to your IV and has a button you can press when you have discomfort. This PCA machine will deliver a dose of pain medication through your IV when you press the button. A small dose of narcotic is delivered directly into the bloodstream with each use. The effect should be very rapid and it should be possible to press the button sufficiently frequently to keep you comfortable. The machine is programmed with safety features to insure no overdosing. You can only receive a certain amount of medication each hour. It is important for you to communicate with your health care team if the pain medication is not effective. Adjustments can be made to your PCA. Some patients may receive an epidural anesthetic either alone or combined with general anesthesia for their surgical procedure. A small catheter is placed under the skin in the back and can be used postoperatively to deliver pain medications specifically to those nerves carrying pain from your surgery. This technique is very effective for patients undergoing chest, major abdominal and joint replacement surgery. In summary, your pain may not completely disappear, but we should be able to provide adequate comfort to you postoperatively. As your hospital stay nears its end, you will probably be switched to oral pain medication. You may also be given a prescription for pain relieving pills to take home.

Are there other methods to help decrease pain that don’t use drugs?
Simply learning about the operation and the pain expected afterwards, for example, when coughing or getting out of bed or a chair can reduce anxiety and help with pain relief. Relaxation techniques, such as abdominal breathing and jaw relaxation, can help to increase your comfort after surgery. These techniques are easy to learn and they can help to reduce anxiety, but you will need instruction from your nurse or doctor. Cold packs, massage, rest and TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) therapy are some of the other methods that might be used following surgery. While TENS seems interesting, there is little evidence to support its effectiveness. You can position yourself for comfort and ease of breathing. A pillow can be placed against the incision site or to help support the injured area of your body. Decrease the amount of stimuli in your room. Turn down the lights and perhaps limit the number of visitors. Deep breathing can help relax tense muscles. Soft music can help you relax.

Who do I tell about my pain relief needs?
Your surgeon and anesthesiologist are interested in your pain management. Always feel free to communicate with them and the other hospital team members. There are several different methods of pain medication administration and pain relief. We are dedicated to make your recovery and hospital stay as comfortable as possible.

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