You are here

Post-operative pain relief

Note: You must make Dr Agolley or his staff aware of any analgesia that does not agree with you at your appointment (before your surgery).

Your comfort after surgery is a vital part of your successful rehabilitation. Our well trained anaesthetists, acute pain service, and nursing staff liaise closely with Dr Agolley, to ensure that you are receiving an optimum amount of pain relief (analgesia).

All surgery is associated with some pain, however you pain needs to be managed so that it is bearable for you to part take in your physiotherapy exercises. Some patients tell us that “It doesn’t hurt if I don’t move it and lie still”. However if you don’t move your limb when you are required to by Dr Agolley, it may mean the difference between you having an excellent or very poor outcome after your operation.

Analgesia (pain relief) can be administered via different ways to your body:

  • Orally (e.g. tablet form)
  • Injection
  • In to your drip
  • Under your skin
  • In to your muscle
  • Like an enema in to your back passage (uncommon)

You will usually be given pain relief orally in the form of a tablet, unless you are fasting or are unable to swallow a tablet. The benefit of analgesia is obvious, you are comfortable, however we need to balance this carefully with the side-effects which include:

  • Delirium / confusion
  • Constipation
  • Rash
  • Sleepiness
  • Gastrointestinal upset
  • Nausea and vomiting

We manage common side effects expectantly, but if you are experiencing any of these, let your nurse or Dr Agolley know, so they can manage you optimally.