Post-Surgery Pain Management Singapore
It is common to feel pain after surgery and post-surgery pain control is important to speed up the recovery process and lower the risks of developing health complications after the surgery. Post-surgery pain should be expected and discussed with your doctor, but can sometimes become chronic, persisting even after a few months. It is estimated that 1 out of 10 patients will develop chronic postsurgical pain, while 1 out of 100 patients will experience severe chronic postsurgical pain that will affect their lifestyle negatively.
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What is Post-Surgery Pain?
Post-surgery pain is common and needs to be treated correctly to avoid chronic pain, which can become increasingly challenging to manage. Your doctor and surgeon will work with you to create pain management strategies, which aim to minimise post-surgery pain and discomfort. Even prior to your surgery, consulting your doctor will help you understand what to expect after your surgical procedure, which will be helpful in managing your post-surgery pain.
It is important to understand the causes of your pain to ensure that it is not caused by other reasons unrelated to your surgery. Surgical pain can be caused by:
- Damage to your tissues at the incision
- The surgery itself
- The closing of the wound
- The closing of the wound
Other causes of pain may include:
- Muscle pain due to lying on the operating table
- Throat pain, feeling sore or scratchy, commonly as a result of general anaesthesia.
- Pain when moving, especially at or around the site of incision.
Complications of Post-Surgery Pain
Failure to treat and manage post-surgery pain can lead to various health consequences, such as:
- A reduction in quality of life
- Prolonged rehabilitation
- Chronic pain
Working closely with your doctor during your post-operation recovery period to treat and manage your pain effectively is key to avoiding unwanted health consequences and ensuring that your body recovers fully.
Treating Post-Surgery Pain
Depending on your surgery and your needs, the treatment method for your post-surgery pain can differ. While pain-control treatment methods are generally safe, they are not completely free of risk and side effects. You may experience common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, itching, and drowsiness as a result of your pain-control treatment.
Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)
The PCA is a computerised pump that allows you to deliver a small dose of pain medicine into your body with the push of a button when you feel like you need pain relief. The pain medicine is delivered into the intravenous (IV) line, usually in your arm. This device gives you full control over your pain management, only using the device when you require pain relief. It is important that you do not allow anyone else to press the button for you as this may cause you to be over sedated, resulting in breathing difficulties. In addition, you should only press the button when you require pain relief.
Patient-controlled epidural analgesia
This pain control method is commonly used during childbirth. A PCA pump is used, but with an epidural catheter (a very thin plastic tube) that is placed into your back. During and after your surgery, pain medications will be infused through this epidural catheter allowing you to relieve your pain whenever required.
Nerve blocks
A nerve block can be used to control post-surgery pain. It is more effective in treating pain isolated to a smaller area of the body. A nerve block controls pain by blocking off pain signals to the affected areas of the body by intentionally cutting or destroying certain nerves.
Oral pain medications
Oral pain medications may be prescribed by your doctor to help you manage your post-surgery pain. These may include:
- Paracetamol
- Anti-inflammatory medications (naproxen, diclofenac)
- COX-2 inhibitors (etoricoxib, celecoxib)
- Tramadol
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
Physiotherapy can assist you with your post-surgery rehabilitation process, managing chronic pain and ensuring that your recover your quality of life.
Your physiotherapist will be able to instruct you in carrying out a range of exercises to strengthen and mobilise any affected joints and muscles which will help to improve circulatory or respiratory problems that may have developed in the hospital. Many patients experience more than just pain after surgery. Physiotherapy not only helps to treat pain but also addresses the various other problems faced by patients recovering from surgery.
Physiotherapy for post-surgery rehabilitation aims to:
- Manage your pain
- Help you return to your daily life with a loss in quality of life
- Strengthen your weakened muscles
- Stretch stiffened muscles
- Improve your posture
- Regain your independence
- Improve blood circulation and range of motion
- Lower the risk of pressure sores
- Reduce your anxiety and rebuild your confidence when it comes to carrying out daily activities.
Your physiotherapist will assess your body’s condition and create a recovery plan with both short and long-term goals to optimise your rehabilitation process while lowering the risk of injury or secondary problems to surgery.
Manual Therapy and Exercises
Hands-on techniques such as massage, joint mobilisation, and stretching are used to reduce pain, alleviate muscle tension, and improve range of motion. Tailored exercise programs are designed to strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and enhance overall function. These exercises help to support the surgical site, prevent muscle atrophy, and promote recovery.
Deep Tissue Massage
A deep tissue massage is effective in alleviating chronic pains, and treating muscle and tendon pain, stiffness, and injuries by targeting the deeper layers of your muscles. However, deep tissue massage may not be suitable for patients who have just completed their surgery. It is important that you only undergo deep tissue massages after your incision healing is complete. You should consult your doctor regarding this.
Ultrasound therapy
Ultrasound therapy uses high-frequency sound waves to generate heat deep within tissues, promoting blood flow, reducing inflammation, and accelerating tissue healing. It can help relax muscles and alleviate pain at the surgical site.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Hot therapy increases blood flow, relaxes muscles, and reduces stiffness, while cold therapy reduces inflammation, numbs pain, and decreases swelling at the surgical site. Alternating between hot and cold therapy can enhance pain relief and promote circulation.
Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy delivers low-voltage electrical impulses to stimulate nerves and muscles, blocking pain signals and promoting the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals. It provides non-invasive pain relief.
TCM for Post-Surgical Pain
TCM approaches post-surgical pain management with a focus on restoring balance and promoting natural healing within the body.
TCM Acupuncture
Acupuncture is used to stimulate specific points on the body to promote the flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood, alleviate pain, and reduce inflammation. Acupuncture can help relieve post-surgical pain and discomfort while facilitating the body's natural healing process.
TCM Herbal Medicine
TCM herbal remedies may be prescribed to address pain, inflammation, and promote tissue healing following surgery. Herbal formulas are tailored to the individual's specific needs and may include herbs with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-regenerating properties.
TCM Cupping Therapy
Cupping therapy involves creating suction on the skin to increase blood flow, reduce muscle tension, and alleviate pain. Cupping therapy can be effective in relieving post-surgical pain and promoting the body's natural healing response.
Manage and relieve your post-surgical pain with Regis Wellness
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