In the PACU/Recovery Room you will be asked to rate your pain

This helps us to objectively evaluate how much discomfort you are having.
The scale that we most often use is the 0 -10 scale. 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst possible pain.

0	1    2    3	4   5   6   7	8   9   10
no pain	minimal pain	moderate pain	worst possible pain

At Home
It is best to have someone stay with you after you arrive home from your surgery. If this is not possible, we recommend that you arrange to have someone available by phone.

• Some patients have concerns about taking care of themselves when they go home. Please discuss these or any concerns you may have with your nurse during your preoperative interview.
• A nurse from the recovery room will try to call you the day after your procedure to see how you are doing and answer any of your questions.
• If you need to speak to a nurse, you may call the Surgery Center at (707)578-4100. A nurse is available Monday through Friday.
• Your surgeon is available to you as well. You can reach him/her at their office or they can be paged through their answering service.

It is important that you fill the prescription for your pain medication. 

• Patients are often comfortable when leaving the surgery center and do not think they will need anything as strong as a prescription pain pill.
• Many surgeons use local anesthesia at the wound site so that you will be fairly comfortable until the local anesthesia wears off, which sometimes does not occur until later in the day or even into the next day.
• It is much easier to keep your pain under control than try to alleviate it with more medication once you are very uncomfortable. We recommend that you fill your prescription as soon as possible.
• It is often helpful to fill your prescription before your day of surgery. Please bring your insurance card with you.

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Take pain relief drugs when pain first begins

• It is much easier to control your pain when you take your pain medication as prescribed.
• Most patients on the day of surgery, that evening and the following day will need to take their pain medication every 4 to 6 hours. 
  • As your discomfort lessens you may change taking your prescription narcotic medication to a Tylenol or ibuprofen like drug as ordered in your discharge instructions
  • As long as you are taking narcotic type medication you should not drive, drink alcohol or do anything that requires coordination or judgement activity
• If the pain medication prescribed for you is not effective in alleviating the discomfort, you should contact your surgeon.
• Please follow the advice of your surgeon if ice and/or elevation to the surgical area is recommended.

Some pain medications can cause constipation

• If this happens, you may take a stool softener (such as Colace), or a gentle laxative (such as Milk of Magnesia).
• You do not need a prescription for these medicines..

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Do not drive while you are taking "narcotic" pain medication.

• This includes medicine like Percocet, Tylenol #3, and Vicodan.  

Prescription Pain Medications and Non-Narcotic Pain Medications

Below we have provided general information about some of the commonly prescribed pain medications. The information provided here does not contain a full description of the medication listed. For specific medication information, such as dosage, adverse effects, side effects and possible contraindications, please consult your pharmacist.

All of these medications are best taken with food in your stomach such as a few crackers or toast.

Non-Narcotic Pain Medications

Tylenol/Acetaminophen

• Benefits: 
  • Used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever
  • When taken as directed for short periods of time Tylenol/Acetaminophen has few or no side effects.
• Risks:
  • Do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking this medication.
  • If you have liver disease, consult your doctor before taking this medication.

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Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) (Ibuprofen, Toradol, Motrin, Advil, Nuprin) 

• Benefits:
  • These medicines reduce swelling, fever, inflammation and mild to moderate pain after surgery.
  • They can lessen or eliminate the need for stronger medications.
  • NSAIDS can be used alone or in combination with narcotic pain medication to help control more severe pain.
  • They are not addictive.
• Risks:
  • NSAIDS can interfere with blood clotting. 
  • They may cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and heartburn.
  • Check with your doctor or your discharge instructions before taking this medication.

Narcotic Pain Medication

(A prescription is necessary for these medications. These medications may not be refilled.)

• Tylenol #3 (Tylenol with Codeine)
• Vicodin (Hydrocodone)
• Percocet/Roxicet
• Demerol

• Benefits: 
  • Most often used for acute pain such as short-term pain after surgery.
  • They do not cause bleeding.
  • It is rare for patients to become addicted as a result of taking narcotics for post-operative pain.
• Risks:
  • Narcotics may cause drowsiness, nausea, constipation, itching, or interfere with urination.
  • Some of these medications contain acetaminophen (Tylenol). If you have liver disease, consult your doctor before taking this medication.
  • Do not take more medication than prescribed by your doctor.
  • Do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking these medications.
  • If you are taking the medication as directed and you do not have pain relief, please call your doctor.

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