People often experience pain after surgery – it is our body’s way of responding to the stress placed on the body from surgery. We cannot always make the pain go away completely, but we can help to make it more manageable with a variety of methods. Of these methods, one is medication. Good pain relief may assist with a faster recovery for you by allowing you to:
- Sit out of bed, and/or walk
- Help you to deep breathe
- Get some sleep while you are recovering
If you already have pain before surgery (chronic pain), it’s important to talk with your GP. This is because pain that is not well managed before surgery can affect your recovery after surgery. You should have an updated list of your regular medications from your GP and/or pharmacist before you come to hospital. This will help your treating doctors and anaesthetist work out the best medications for you during and after surgery.
Resources
- Pain Australia: Fact Sheets (painaustralia.org.au)
- Chronic Pain Australia: Home – Chronic Pain Australia