How bad is the pain after surgery?

[Erika3059 1]

Hey everyone, I enjoy reading in this forum. I don't have a date for my surgery yet, still going through the steps needed to get to that part, so in the mean time I'm doing lots of research. My question is, I used to be an opiate addict and I was able to stay clean for 5 years now, however I am on an opiate blocker that helps me stay clean each day. I heard some of you talking about having pain meds for after the operation. I was curious as to how bad the pain is because I have a low pain tolerance and the meds I'm on help with pain a little too, but also block any opiate from working which I wouldn't every wanna take either way. So was wondering if I'd be ok Just taking Tylenol, or is the pain bad. I'm gonna have to push through it. I need and want to continue this journey very badly. Thanks

[glitter eyes 1,398]

You could always ask your surgeon to order IV Tylenol (Ofirmev). I had a few friends who had surgery before mine and they did not need any narcotic pains meds in the hospital because of the IV Tylenol. They said it worked amazingly. My surgeon ordered it for me, but when I had my surgery the hospital would not dispense it to the floor due to the high cost/availability. I could have forced the issue (I am a nursing administrator for the hospital) but the narcotics were working good for me; So I didn't get to try it.

Maybe that could be an option for you.

[tssiemer 85]

I am very curious about this too.

Yesterday I was in the ER all day for what appeared to be appendicitis but was the stomach flu and some colitis. I thought I was dying. Morphine barely helped.

How am I going to survive this surgery?

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[James Marusek 5,244]

After the operation, I had no pain medicine. I didn't need any. I have a high pain tolerance. This surgery was done laparoscopically and produced significantly less pain than general surgery where they cut you open.

If you are concerned about pain then begin a walking regiment of 30 minutes per day minimum pre-op. This will make the recovery process go smoother and dramatically reduce the pain level. Once you begin walking after surgery and get the kinks out, the pain will go away quickly.

[Keke74 16]

The bulk of the pain comes from the gas. That is the worst. The earlier you get up after surgery and start walking the better you will feel. Gas-X strips also works wonders. This is coming from someone that has a very low pain tolerance.

[Djmohr 6,965]

I agree with Keke, the bulk of the pain is from the gas. Honestly the pain meds don't even touch that pain anyway. The thing that works best is gas x, heating pads and walking.

For that first day liquid Tylenol may also work.

I was on opiates for 12 years straight for severe nerve pain related to an injured spine I had fixed. I was not an addict and my dose never changed in that period of time but my body had come to depend on those pain killers. I decided I had enough about 3 years ago and weaned myself off.

I was afraid that taking pain meds for this surgery would cause me to go back on them and I had a fear of that. I did take pain meds for that first day in the hospital and they sent me home with them but I never even used them. I went straight for liquid Tylenol. By the way. Liquid medicines burn a little but if you are suffering, it will help.

I poured that liquid Vicodin down the drain after I was sure I could manage without it.

I think I took liquid Tylenol twice after I got home.

I do have a high tolerance for pain though....5 spine surgeries will do that to a person I guess.

[toasty 371]

Personally, this is a question I would talk to your doctor about. If you have had a problem with opiate dependency in the past, I think the doctors would work to find some non-opiate option for you, or come to some accommodation. Maybe as other said IV Tylenol, maybe something else. I know there are a number of non-habit-forming pain medications available, so they may decide on one of those.

[Erika3059 1]

Thanks everyone for all of your input, this site it great.

[posterchilds 0]

I realy had a lot of pain after waking up. They asked me if i was in pain and i answered yes and they gave me something for the pain. So basically i was at a block where the patients wake up after the operation and i was stuck there for like 6 hours. They wouldn't let me see my parents because the narcosis person i dont know what the title of that person is (sorry english is not my first language) he had to clear me and let me go to my room but he couldn't come and after 6 hours my parents were angry and they told them to let me see them in my room. And after i saw my parents i was in pain again it was like missing something from your body it realy hurt i dont know how to explain it and they kept giving me pain relievers they helped me but they didnt let me drink any Water for 1 day i dont know why because other patients were allowed to. And when i finally got to drink i got too exited and drank too much so it gave me stomach ache haha you need to take realy small sips i didnt know that haha. Its been about 1 week since i had my surgery and im still in pain but not like i had in the hospital. I mostly have pain when i try to stand up from my bed. And im 18 by the way haha good luck!

[Amylou 206]

Barely any pain. Could have easily made it thru with just the Tordol.

[Tirtzah 0]

Hi Erika: I was on 2 opiate pain meds from a work back injury from 2007 July until May of 2011 and then went off of them both cold turkey with no problems or withdrawl symptoms. However, this only made me practically bed ridden as I could barely walk! So after several months of this, I went to another Dr. who prescribed Ultram to me. They start you off with small amounts and move you up to eventually 2 pills either 3 or 4 times per day. This took care of the pain for me. I was able to get up, walk and be somewhat active, including pushing a push mower to mow the 3 acres we had. It would take me 2 days of mowing for 3 hours per day. At the time I was put on Ultram, since it is NOT an "Opiate", it was not even a controlled drug back then. Recently, the FDA DID place it on the "controlled substance" list. Since this Ultram is NOT an "Opiate" drug, and is considered to be non-addictive, it may be an alternative choice to Opiate pain meds after surgery? You do know that whenever you are placed under anesthesia, they give you opiate pain meds while you are under, right? Most often they give you Fentanyl IV. So you will also want to discuss this with your Anesthesiologist who talks to you prior to your surgery, if you do NOT want the Opiate Fentanyl IV medication administered to you during your surgery.

Also, whenever you are lying down in the bed, if you try and lie on your left side, this will help you to be able to pass the gas after surgery. As others have also said, walking also helps your body pass the gas! Also, little known fact is that if you drink milk after surgery, as soon as they allow you to have more than only Clear liquids, the milk will help you to pass the gas orally, (upper gastric gas released by "burping")..........Hope this is helpful to you?

Thanks everyone for all of your input, this site it great.

[Erika3059 1]

Thanks for all this info every one. I am currently on Suboxone which is an opiate blocker. Any opiate I would take if I tried would not even work. However the Suboxone does kind of work as a pain med, and I usually don't take a lot anyways so maybe that would help. I'm scared of the surgery in general I wouldn't want to risk getting addicted to pain meds again, it almost ruined my life the first time. I will discuss all this with all the medical staff where I go as well.

[Dream4tc 192]

IV Toradol is non narcotic and can help with pain, but will be depending on your kidney function most specifically creatinine level. I would talk with your surgeon about some options. I would also ask for a Pain management consult so they can also help you with a plan as well.

[red37 116]

Day two in the hospital they started giving me Tylenol, never gave me a rx for any pain medicine of any kind!