Part of the recovery process from any surgery is the effective management of pain. Fortunately, a variety of pain medications are available following back surgery, which can help make the recovery process more comfortable. Doctors and surgeons utilize powerful painkillers during surgery and can prescribe a number of different types of medication once the operation is complete. Regardless of the type of procedure, pain medication plays an integral role in getting patients back on their feet and on with their lives.
Finding the right medication after back surgery is extremely important for a number of reasons. Doctors do not want to prescribe medication that is too strong because it can lead to frustrating side effects; conversely, patients obviously don’t want their medication to be too weak. Ensuring the patient receives the right post-operative treatment requires:
- An experienced medical staff (doctor, surgeon, and anesthesiologist)
- A full medical screening to help avoid complications and correctly identify the origin of the pain
- An honest discussion about previous experiences with painkillers, drugs, and alcohol
Specific medication used after back surgery also depends greatly on the exact procedure. Local anesthetics, ibuprofen, and other over-the-counter painkillers are often all that is needed to manage a patient’s pain after minor endoscopic surgery. Conversely, major open back surgery can require sedation, spinal anesthesia, heavy-duty painkillers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
It is important to remember that only your doctor can tell you which medications should be taken after back surgery. Different procedures and patients require different medication and treatments. To learn more about the various ways to manage pain after a minimally invasive, endoscopic procedure, contact the award-winning staff at Laser Spine Institute (LSI).
