Managing pain after surgery Info
Last reviewed
What pain to expect, how to use pain relief well, and when to call.
Some pain after surgery is normal and expected. The aim of post-operative pain management is not to feel nothing — it is to feel comfortable enough to sleep, do your exercises, and start moving again.
What pain to expect
Pain is usually worst on the day of surgery and the day after, then improves steadily over the first 1–2 weeks. By 4–6 weeks most patients have only occasional discomfort with activity. Throbbing or aching at night is common in the first week — keeping the arm elevated on pillows often helps.
Sharp, electric-shock pains can occur as nerves recover. They are unpleasant but normal and usually settle within a few weeks.
The pain ladder
Most people get good results from layering simple medications:
- Paracetamol (acetaminophen) — 1 g four times a day, regularly, not just when pain peaks. This is the workhorse and works better when taken on a schedule than when chasing the pain.
- Anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib) — taken with food. Not safe for everyone — your surgeon will tell you if you should avoid them (e.g. kidney disease, history of stomach ulcers, bone-healing concerns after fracture surgery).
- Stronger pain relief (oxycodone, tramadol) — short courses only, for breakthrough pain that the above doesn't cover. These cause constipation, drowsiness, and become less effective the longer you take them.
Non-medication strategies
These work surprisingly well alongside the tablets:
- Ice — 15 minutes at a time, several times a day, for the first week (see Heat vs ice)
- Elevation — keep the hand higher than the elbow, the elbow higher than the heart. Less swelling means less pain
- Movement — your prescribed exercises hurt a little but reduce stiffness, which is what makes a joint ache
- Distraction — watching something you enjoy genuinely lowers pain perception in the early days
When to call us
- Pain that is getting worse rather than better after the first few days
- Pain not controlled by the medications you've been given
- New severe pain that came on suddenly
- Calf pain or swelling (rare, but a sign of a blood clot)
- Chest pain or shortness of breath — go to the emergency department
