Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Postoperative Pain

You had so much on your mind before your surgery that you really did not give too much thought to how you were going to feel afterward. Well, hindsight is 20/20, as they say. A long recuperation has left you achy, miserable, and wishing you had been better prepared for the pain. Well do not be too hard on yourself. After all, you had every reason to believe that surgery would make you feel better, not worse. That is probably what persuaded you to go through with it in the first place. The severity of your postoperative pain depends on a number of factors, including the nature of your surgery, your physical and mental state, your previous experience with pain, and whether you develop any complications. Of course, the quality of the postoperative care you receive is important, too. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt for a speedy, pain-free recovery.

1. Try Acupuncture

Acupuncture can reduce your need for medication. You can take smaller doses for a shorter period of time. Acupuncture also helps clear your body of anesthesia, so you feel better sooner. Most states have licensing procedures for acupuncturists. Make sure that you choose someone with the proper credentials.

2. Time It Right

While you do not want to overdo it with painkillers, you also do not want to put off taking them until you are doubled over in pain. If you take your medication when the pain first starts, you may need only one pill. But if you let your pain get really bad, you may have to take three pills and you will still be uncomfortable. It will take an hour or so for the drug to reach its full effectiveness. So when exactly should you take your medicine? It should be when you start noticing an ache or an unpleasant feeling.

3. Ease The Ache With Ice

Ice is a good local anesthetic and can help reduce pain around your incision during the first 24 hours after surgery. It is recommended putting crushed ice in a plastic bag, wrapping the bag in a towel, then laying the pack over your incision for as long as you are comfortable. Do not use this treatment after the first 24 hours. It can delay wound healing. For the same reason, you should never put anything wet directly on a fresh incision.

4. Don’t Go Cold Turkey

If you are taking prescription narcotics for your pain, discontinue them as soon as you are able. But don’t abruptly stop taking medication altogether. Instead, switch to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen for a period of time.

5. Get Active

It is wise to rest for the first day or two after surgery. But then you should get up and do some easy walking and gentle exercise. If you stay in bed much longer than that, you will have a lot more pain when you finally start moving around. Remaining inactive for an extended period of time also increases your risk of postoperative complications.

6. Add Some Heat

After the first 24 hours, trade in your ice bag for a heating pad or hot-water bottle. Heat keeps the muscles around the incision from becoming stiff. Don’t make the pad or bottle too hot, though just around 1000 F. and be careful not to fall asleep on it.

7. Lift Your Spirits

When you are recuperating from surgery, attitude counts. Try to focus on the fact that every day you feel a little better. Of course, there may be times when you have more pain than you did the day before. If you have an off-day, it is usually because you have overdone it. So ease up a bit, but also look at the overall trend toward improvement.

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Raymond Lee is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is the Founder of Bodyfixes Group specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit www.bodyfixes.com for more information.

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