POST-SURGICAL PAIN
Post-surgical pain may be caused by a range of issues, including:
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Tissue damage at the incision
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The procedure itself
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The closing of the wound
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Force that may be applied during the procedure
Post-surgical pain may also be caused by lying on the surgical table or using a breathing tube.
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One form of post-surgical pain, nociceptive pain, is the most common type of pain and typically caused by tissue damage to muscle, bone, skin, and organs. Nociceptive pain may be caused by an ankle sprain, a dental procedure, or a burn.
A few types of nociceptive pain include:
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Superficial somatic pain refers to surface injuries caused by cuts, bruises, burns, and surgical incisions.
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Deep somatic pain occurs in tissues deep within the body, including ligaments, bones, muscles, and tendons.
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Visceral pain originates from internal organs and may be difficult to pinpoint its exact location.
Damage to nerve cells, injury, or disease can cause neuropathic pain. Other types of neuropathic pain include:
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Central neuropathic pain (CNP) occurs after damage to the brain or spinal cord during brain, head, or spinal surgery.
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Peripheral neuropathic pain comes from nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord; joint replacement surgery may cause pain in the nerves of the arms or legs.
Referred pain occurs when the brain can’t identify the source of pain. This can happen if the brain receives bundled information from different parts of the body through one set of nerves. For example, heart attack patients may experience referred pain in the left arm because nerve signals from both the heart and arm are sent to the brain together.
Phantom limb pain refers to a continued sensation in a body part that has been amputated. This type of pain can also be felt in non-limb body parts, such as a removed breast.
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At Premier Urgent Care, post-surgical pain may be treated with injections and pain management techniques.
A few types of joint and soft tissue injections that may bring pain relief include nerve blocks, epidural injections, piriformis injections, sacroiliac joint injections, and trigger point injections. Patients should speak to their physician to find out if they may benefit from joint and soft tissue injections.
Pain management techniques can help patients minimize post-surgical pain through cold and heat therapy, gentle exercise, progressive muscle relaxation, massage, acupuncture, cognitive behavior therapy, yoga, deep breathing exercises, physical therapy, biofeedback, music therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Each patient will receive a customized pain management plan to treat their specific type of post-surgical pain.
Post-surgical pain may require advanced treatment that may include chiropractic adjustment, physical therapy, and additional surgery. Premier Urgent Care supports patients needing a range of treatments. Staff is available to answer any questions about obtaining advanced treatment.