Pain After Surgery Specialist

Is pain after surgery normal?

Surgery is traumatic to your body, and experiencing some level of pain after surgery is normal. Incisions, the location of the incisions, and the length of your surgery all play a role in how much pain you can expect following your procedure.

Because there are different levels and types of pain, you need to pay attention to your symptoms throughout your recovery.

What are different types of postsurgical pain?

After surgery, you can develop pain that ranges from mild to debilitating, depending on the type and location of the pain. Common types of postsurgical pain include:

Nociceptive pain

Nociceptive pain is acute pain that develops when surgery damages soft tissues, bone, or organs. This type of pain typically improves over time as the structure heals with rest and over-the-counter medications.

There are also different types of nociceptive pain:

Superficial somatic pain

Superficial somatic pain describes the pain you feel from burns, cuts, and bruises. This type of pain often develops after surgery in the area of the incisions.

Deep somatic pain

Deep somatic pain affects the tissues deep in your body, including your muscles, ligaments, bones, and tendons. This type of pain may occur if your surgery requires deep incisions to repair a fracture or the surgeon cuts through muscles to access an organ.

Visceral pain

Visceral pain begins in your internal organs due to damage during surgery. It can be difficult to determine the exact location of this type of pain because sensations can travel outside the original starting point.

Neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain is another common type of postsurgical pain that occurs when surgery damages nerves. Types of neuropathic pain include:

Central neuropathic pain

Central pain occurs when surgery damages nerves in your brain or your spinal cord.

Peripheral pain

Peripheral pain begins in the nerves of your body outside your brain and spinal cord. These nerves supply sensations to your arms, legs, hands, and feet.

Referred pain

Referred pain occurs when your brain receives signals from nerves in multiple regions of your body at the same time. This type of pain makes it difficult to determine the exact source of the pain.

When should I seek treatment for pain after surgery?

Your surgeon should already be working with you on a plan to address pain that develops after surgery. 

However, if your existing treatments aren’t enough to reduce your pain, or if your pain is worsening even with medical care, you can schedule a diagnostic evaluation at LiveWell Pain Management.

Dr. Taha can determine the root cause of your postsurgical pain and design a treatment plan to keep your symptoms under control. Your treatment may involve oral or injectable pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, medical Acupuncture, or physical therapy to help you heal more efficiently and with less pain.

Dr. Taha also offers Spinal Cord and Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulations for failed neck and back syndrome or anyone who’s undergone surgeries in these areas who continues to have persistent pain. DRG stimulation has been shown to be very effective in treating Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), and Dr. Taha is one of the select few physicians performing this procedure. 

COOLIEF Radiofrequency Ablation can also be used in treating persistent knee, shoulder, or hip pain following joint replacement surgery. This is one of the only pain-relieving procedures indicated for continued pain after joint replacement. Dr. Taha is a certified provider of COOLIEF Radiofrequency Ablation. 

To schedule an evaluation for pain after surgery, call LiveWell Pain Management or request an appointment online today.