Nerve pain after surgery and other types of chronic postoperative pain can be very dissabeling.
What Is Chronic Postoperative Pain?
Most of us anticipate pain immediately after surgery. When you are cut, your body responds with tissue swelling and a certain amount of discomfort. This is called “acute” postoperative pain. Chronic postoperative pain persists after the expected healing time from surgery.
What Causes It?
The cause of chronic postoperative pain, also known as chronic post surgical pain, is not completely understood. However, most researchers agree on a few potential causes:
- peripheral nerve damage during surgery
- inflammation at the site of the wound
- damage to bodily tissues during surgery
While there is not much research pinpointing the risk factors for chronic postoperative pain, there are a few things that may predispose certain individuals to this condition. These include:
- prior history of chronic pain disorders
- a history of anxiety and/or depression
- excessive fear of the surgery
- pre-operative pain
- extensive (lasting more than three hours) or complicated surgeries
Common Types of Chronic Postoperative Pain
You can experience chronic postoperative pain from almost any type of surgery, including outpatient procedures. Examples of postoperative pain include:
- Phantom limb pain
- Post-mastectomy pain
- Pain following hernia repair
- Postoperative pelvic pain
- Postoperative back pain
Treating Nerve Pain and Other Types of Chronic Pain After Surgery
Chronic postoperative pain can be treated with any of the following medications:
- NSAIDs. Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen may be used to control mild to moderate postoperative pain. They may be used to treat severe pain as well, in combination with other painkillers.
- Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is another option in treating mild, moderate or severe postoperative pain. It may be used alone or in conjunction with other painkillers.
- Opioids. Weaker opioids may be used to treat moderate postoperative pain, while stronger ones may be utilized for more severe cases.
- Anticonvulsants. Anticonvulsants may be used to manage certain types of postoperative pain, especially those associated with nerve damage.
- Nerve blocks. In some cases of severe postoperative pain, nerve blocks may be used to reduce pain sensations.
Chronic postoperative pain treatment is often multimodal. This means that treatments are often combined to provide maximal pain relief.