Tips to help minimize pain after surgery

Earlier this year, I watched an ABC News story about doctors’ lack of pain management expertise. It resonated with me because I’m a surgeon, of course, but it is also a crucial component of patient care which is particularly important to me-how to make post-op patients comfortable and help promote the fastest recovery possible after surgery.

Here are some simple tips to help speed recovery with as little pain as possible:

• Start Before Surgery.

The time to talk with your surgeon and anesthesiologist about how your pain will be managed after surgery is during pre-surgery testing so you are all on the same page about your pain management protocol. Be sure to discuss all of the medications you are taking and if you have any allergies.

• Discuss previous experiences with pain with your surgeon.

Before surgery, talk to your doctor about your experiences with different methods of pain control.

• After surgery, make sure your medical team is aware of your pain level.

Communicate how much pain you are experiencing with your doctor, the nursing staff—anyone and everyone. At any point if your pain is more than you can bear, ask for help immediately. If you don’t receive proper attention, ask to have your surgeon contacted.

• Be aware of the emotional toll and physical toll surgery can take.

Successfully managing anxiety and depression after surgery, whether with medication or social support, often reduces the need for pain medication and quickens the time you can resume normal activities.

• Develop a plan for when you go home. 

Ask your doctor about what can be done to ensure that your pain will be properly addressed once you leave the hospital. This is particularly important to your long-term recovery.

Unfortunately, whether you have undergone a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery or general surgery, with a larger incision, you will experience some discomfort. I advise my patients that only they know how they are feeling and no one knows their bodies better than they do. Most importantly, there is never a reason to suffer in silence. You will not become addicted to pain medication for a short period of time. Your medical team wants you to be comfortable while your body travels down the road to recovery—ideally in the fast lane!

About Dr. Adeyeri

Dr. Adeyeri is a board certified, fellowship-trained advanced laparoscopic, bariatric and general surgeon. He is medical director at Sterling Surgicare; medical director of the Institute for Weight Loss, Raritan Bay Medical Center; and partner at Central Jersey Bariatrics. Dr. Adeyeri is on staff at Raritan Bay Medical Center, CentraState Medical Center and Bayshore Community Hospital. For more information, call (732) 217 – 3897.