You scheduled surgery, and now you’re nervous about the cascade of issues you’ll experience in the postoperative period. Naturally, you understand there will be a way to manage and control your new symptoms. It’s also vital to remember that this period is temporary, and the goal is to improve your overall health and wellness.
There are a few key things to know when it comes to understanding why postoperative pain management is critical.
Understanding Post-Op Pain
Any time you experience a major surgical procedure, there will be a certain level of postoperative pain. This pain can come from various sources ranging from the injury or ailment to the incision site.
While this painful recovery period is only temporary, pain management is a critical step in the recovery process for a patient. After all, it’s necessary to help them get back on their feet and back into a lifestyle they enjoy. Many facilities and doctors will use a patient-controlled analgesia pump to allow easier management and satisfactory recovery rates.
Patient Control
One of the most vital aspects of pain management involves patients having control over their needs, as this reduces the lag time in receiving care and enables them to focus on their overall recovery. All patient-controlled devices will offer a window of opportunity for the patient to request their medicine.
They cannot control which medicine the prescribing doctor chooses, but they can control the intervals they receive. Typically, there is a six to seven-minute wait time between each dose, and this continual flow of management enables them to begin the recovery process promptly.
Recovery Rates
For most minor and all major surgeries, a performing surgeon and nurses will declare the patient’s optimal recovery window. This period is when pain management plays the most significant role and therapy begins.
While every procedure and every patient’s needs are different, typically, the prescribed medicine and the recovery will coincide with the patient’s best interest and support a satisfactory recovery rate. Without the ability to control the experienced pain, a patient may not achieve the optimal recovery pace.
Understanding why postoperative pain management is critical can assist patients and allow their loved ones to support their journeys to recovery. After all, the primary goal is to live an enjoyable and functional lifestyle as soon as possible.
