Pain after Orthopaedic Surgery

Things you can do to help with your pain management plan after injury or surgery

Understand that pain is part of the normal healing process after surgery. Pain is the worst the first few days after surgery, but it will improve day by day.
Monitor your pain levels and check with your surgical team if you experience unexpected pain.
Take as little opioid / narcotic medication as possible. These medicines have serious side effects and can quickly become addictive (meaning your body will require more to get an effect).
Some strategies that will help get comfortable:
- Add oral acetaminophen – either 2 extra strength every 6 to 8 hours or 2 regular strength every 4 hours, not taking more than 4000 milligrams a day.
- Add an anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) if allowed to take these.
  - Examples include:
    - ibuprofen 600 or 800 mg every 6 hours for 2-3 days
    - naproxen 440 mg every 12 hours for 2-3 days
- Stagger acetaminophen and NSAIDs
- Elevate the surgical area
- Apply ice 10 minutes on, 5 minutes off
Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water
Make sure you maintain a good social support system to help you with your recovery

More information can be found at:

https://www.aaos.org/quality/quality-programs/quality-toolkits/helping-patients-get-comfortable-after-injury-or-surgery/

Author

Creighton C. Tubb, MD Hip & Knee Replacement Surgery; New Braunfels Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine, New Braunfels, Texas

You Might Also Enjoy...

5 Signs It Might Be Time for Joint Revision Surgery

Millions of Americans turn to joint replacement surgery so they can get back to moving without pain. There are times when these replacements can fail and require a revision surgery, however, and we review the signs here.

How Do I Know If I Have a Sprain or Fracture in My Wrist?

Wrist injuries are common across all age groups, and figuring out what’s causing the discomfort is important. Here, we look at wrist fractures and wrist sprains — differences, similarities, and next steps.

Can Osteoarthritis Be Reversed?

About 33 million Americans struggle with achy joints due to osteoarthritis, and most want to know whether the condition is reversible. Because May is Arthritis Awareness Month, we’re tackling this question here.

What Are the Signs of Trigger Finger and Should I Be Concerned?

You’ve noticed a change in one or more of your fingers that’s making it a challenge to easily move and extend the digits. There’s a good chance that you’re dealing with trigger finger or trigger thumb, which we review here.

What to Expect When Undergoing Shoulder Replacement Surgery

You’ve probably heard of hip and knee replacement, but did you know that we can also hit the reset button on shoulder joints? Here’s a look at this increasingly common procedure and what you can expect.

4 Signs You Might Benefit From Knee Replacement Surgery

You’ve been hobbling around on achy knees for some time now, and you’re wondering whether you should consider knee replacement surgery. Here, we look at some signs that point in this direction.