Post-Surgical Pain
Post-surgical pain is pain/discomfort that happens after a surgery is performed at any location on the body. Pain after surgery is common and to be expected, but if the pain gets worse instead of better you need to promptly seek attention from a medical professional- it could be a more serious matter that needs to be treated. Pain after surgery can happen to anyone at any age.
Symptoms of Post-Surgical Pain
Pain after surgery can happen to anyone- infants to the elderly. While most of us can look after ourselves and determine if the pain is normal or not, infants and very young children can’t properly express pain other than crying. Symptoms of post-surgical pain to look out for in babies/toddlers include:
- Sleeplessness
- Poor appetite
- Crying
- Lethargy
- Poor drinking
Having a sudden high fever may require immediate medical attention. If you are feeling any of the below, make an appointment to see your doctor or go to the emergency room if symptoms are unbearable.
- Fever/chills
- Vomiting
- Severe pain that doesn’t fade with time or medicine
- Severe swelling
- Developing a cough
- Chest pain or trouble breathing
- Disorientation or dizziness
- Drainage around the incision
Causes of Post-Surgical Pain
There are hundreds of different reasons that there may be pain after a recent surgery. The pain can be quick and accompanied by a fever which could mean an infection, or there could be much more serious causes such as a blood clot if you are having trouble breathing. General pain and discomfort are to be expected- that’s why your doctor usually prescribes you pain medication after surgery. Pain after surgery can be extended if you are a smoker, have poor health, or other coexisting medical problems.
Post-Surgical
Some causes of post-surgical pain may need immediate medical attention such as the following:
- Infection
- Hematoma or seroma
- Blood clot
- Break in the wound or stitches not holding skin together
- Pneumonia
- Heart attack
- Change in bowel habits/constipation
- Internal or external bleeding
- Chronic conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
Diagnosis and Treatment of Post-Surgical Pain
If you have pain after surgery, you should always contact your surgeon first. If you are unable to reach them, you should go to the emergency room or call your primary doctor. Seeing a doctor after surgery will go as followed to diagnose your pain:
- Medications and surgical/medical history
- Where the pain is located, how long it lasts, and if it gets better or worse with certain activities.
- A physical examination and a close look at the surgical site
- Certain tests if a diagnosis isn’t made with a physical exam such as a full blood cell count to check for infection, signs of bleeding, and electrol
- ytes to check the status of fluids
- X-rays of the abdomen or chest to check for pneumonia, intestinal movement, or bowel obstruction
- CT scan to check organs and tissues
Your treatment will all depend on your diagnosis. If what you are experiencing is normal post-surgical pain, your doctor will most likely give you home remedies to follow and possibly prescription pain medication. If not, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Motrin) are good pain reducing options.
Other home remedies will include:
- Rest and elevate (if possible) the part of your body that was operated on
- Keep the wound dry and clean
- Following the diet you received is very important if you had abdominal surgery
- Certain treatments such
as icing or applying a warm compress to the area
If your diagnosis is related to a surgical complication, you will most likely be admitted to the hospital for treatment. If your pain continues for months after the surgery, you may have a condition known as chronic pain, which will most likely result in various other treatments to ease the pain/discomfort.