Surgery is sometimes a necessary treatment for severe health conditions. Not everyone wants to have surgery — recovery after an operation can take some time, and you’ll likely experience discomfort as you heal.
Fortunately, a back pain doctor can help you manage any discomfort and pain you experience post-surgery.
What Is Post-Surgical Pain?
Almost everyone who undergoes surgery will experience post-surgical pain, discomfort, and aching. There will be instances where you experience pain in body parts other than the surgical site. Some places where you might feel pain include your:
- Throat
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Back
- Chest
It’s also possible to feel pain in the surgical site whenever you move.
Post-surgical pain is the result of tissue damage from the surgery. Incisions are controlled wounds that your surgeon needs to make to access problem areas within the body. Your surgeon may also have to apply force to the surgical site, depending on what they need to do for your treatment. This force can cause bruising.
All of these aches and pains are normal after surgery. It’s important to let your doctor and nurses know about the extent of your pain post-surgery so that they can adjust your recovery plan.
Why Is Controlling Post-Surgical Pain Important?
Post-surgical pain may be a sign of complications. These can include:
- Blood clots
- Internal scarring
- Pneumonia
You’ll also likely have exercises to perform or therapies to undergo after surgery. These are critical to your recovery process, and pain can discourage you from doing them. It is of utmost importance that you follow your recovery plan. It’s therefore beneficial to have a back doctor help you control your post-surgical pain.
Why Visit a Back Doctor for Pain Control Treatment?
A back doctor specializing in pain management will know the latest and most effective methods to help you deal with your pain. They can recommend several minimally- or non-invasive pain relief treatments.
Everyone experiences pain differently, but a back doctor can create a pain management plan tailored to your needs. You’ll need to have a consultation and describe your condition as completely and honestly as possible.
What are My Post-Surgical Pain Treatment Options?
If you experience post-surgical pain, it’s best to schedule a consultation with your surgeon. Common back pain treatments include at-home remedies, medications, and therapy, but your doctor may have other recommendations, too. Here are some of the available treatments:
Guided Injections
Your surgeon can inject pain medication at a specific location depending on the location of your pain. The following are some of the forms of guided injections:
- Epidural injection – This is an anti-inflammatory steroidal medication that can be injected into your spine for neck and back pain.
- Facet joint injections– This injection treats pain from the facet joints. It can be administered in the neck, upper back, or lumbar area.
- Sacroiliac joint injections– Steroids are injected in the sacroiliac joint connecting the spine and the pelvis for lower back or hip pain related to the sacroiliac joint.
Nerve Block
A nerve block is a guided injection that prevents nerves from delivering pain signals that cause pain. The following are types of nerve blocks:
- Intercostal nerve blocks– These injections relieve chest-related pain.
- Medial branch blocks– This option treats nerves from the spine’s facet joints.
- Occipital nerve blocks– These nerve blocks relieve headaches.
- Selective nerve root block– These diagnostic and therapeutic injections identify and treat pain from the spinal nerve.
- Sympathetic blocks– This treats sympathetic nerves in the spine.
Radiofrequency Ablation
This pain management technique treats pain with radiowaves and heat to destroy the roots of nerves. That is, it stops the brain from receiving pain signals. Radiofrequency ablation helps relieve back, neck, and hip pain.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses compounds from your blood to boost the body’s recovery. Your doctor will extract some of your blood and place it into a centrifuge, separating plasma from the rest of your blood. This plasma has a high concentration of platelets, and your doctor will then inject it into the affected area. Platelets are responsible for healing tissue damage, so PRP therapy promotes healing in the injected site.
Implantable Neuromodulators
Neuromodulation is a highly-advanced treatment method that disrupts the nerves that send pain signals. This is a minimally-invasive treatment that completely halts post-surgical pain.
Back Doctor Near Me in Melbourne, FL
If you have had back surgery or plan to do so, make sure to plan for proper post-surgical pain care. Guidance from a back doctor specializing in pain management can help you manage your pain and recovery more swiftly. Luckily, you don’t need to search for pain management doctors near you any longer.
Here at Central Florida Spine and Pain, we work closely with our patients to help them find relief from pain. We provide expert and quality interventional pain management in Melbourne, FL. Our procedures cater to those with chronic pain, back pain, and post-surgical pain.
For inquiries and appointments, contact us at (321) 802-5021. You can also fill out our online request form. We look forward to helping you get back to enjoying a pain-free life!
