Pain Management

We want to make sure that you’re as comfortable as possible as you recover from your surgery. Our goal is to make sure you heal quickly and safely, while also staying ahead of the pain. Our expert care team can help get you the latest medications and methods to manage your pain so you can get back on your feet.

How Can I Manage My Pain After Surgery?

Managing your pain effectively happens by knowing what to expect after your surgery ahead of time. By having this knowledge beforehand, you’ll be able to better understand and manage your pain.

Before surgery, talk to your doctor about your experience with medications, including:

• Any allergies you have, especially to certain medications
• Medications or methods that have worked (or not worked) for you before
• Side effects to certain medications
• Any other over-the-counter or prescription medications you take

During your hospital stay, our pain management specialists provide 24/7 care to control your pain. After your surgery, your nurses will ask you to rate your pain on a scale from 0 to 10 and ask you to describe where you hurt and what you feel. Be honest about your pain as this will help us treat the pain more effectively.

Medication works best when you take it before the pain gets severe. Don’t try to grin and bear it – there is no need to tolerate severe pain, especially after surgery.

Ways to Treat Pain

There are several different types of pain medication to help alleviate your pain symptoms while you’re recovering at home, including:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Local anesthetics
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin)

How Can I Receive Pain Medication?

There are several different ways you can receive pain medication, including:

• At scheduled times
• On request
• Patient-controlled analgesia (painkiller)
• Patient-controlled epidural analgesia

Your Banner Health surgical team can advise you on the best pain medication for your particular needs. We’re with you through every step of your recovery process. Talk to your doctor to address any questions related to pain management after your surgery.