When your doctor says you need surgery many scary things come to mind. Is my condition very serious? Will this procedure cure what’s wrong? Then, there is the prospect of post-surgery pain. How badly is this going to hurt?

It’s inevitable that some pain will come with most types of surgery. The cutting of the skin stimulates nerve fibers to signal pain. As the body begins to heal, pain should decrease and eventually stop. The amount of time pain lasts after surgery can depend on several factors such as:

• A person’s general health
• The presence of coexisting medical problems
• Cigarette smoking

The good news is that there are many highly effective medications to keep post-surgical pain under control. In addition to the benefit of greater comfort, experts say well-controlled pain can speed recovery and prevent long-term problems.

In order to make sure you’re getting the best possible treatment for your post-surgical pain, experts advise taking an active role and keeping the channels of communication open between you and your doctor — starting before your operation. Talk with your surgeon and anesthesiologist about how your pain will be managed after surgery during pre-surgery testing, not after the procedure has occurred.

Some important items to discuss with your doctor before making your way to the hospital:

• Tell them about everything you’re taking
• Ask how much pain to expect and how long will it last

On rare occasions, pain may remain, though the cause of pain cannot be identified. This condition can become long-term pain.

Pain after surgery can be a sign of surgical complications such as the following:

• Infection
• A break in the wound
• A collection of blood or other body fluid below the skin (a hematoma)
• Vomiting or a change in your bowel habits after abdominal surgery
• Formation of fistulas (abnormal passages between body structures
• Lung complications
• Chest pain
• Bleeding
• Chronic conditions

Contact Dr. Johnson for any General Surgery needs. He and his experienced team will work with you to design a safe and effective pain management plan for you.

Read more online at: http://surgery.about.com/od/aftersurgery/qt/SurgeryPain.htm