What is the best pain reliever after abdominal surgery? Medications after surgery

During surgery, tissues, muscles, and bones are damaged, so the person feels pain. Painkillers after surgery help relieve a person of pain, which has a beneficial effect on the recovery process.

Any operation is a huge stress for a person, especially one who has a low pain threshold. The postoperative period is necessarily accompanied by significant pain, this needs to be understood, but there is no need to endure it. Therefore, after the procedure, it is imperative to prescribe powerful analgesics that will help improve a person’s well-being and make the recovery period shorter and more effective. Painkiller pills, which are available in every home, are unlikely to help here. Immediately after surgery, strong painkilling injections are usually used, and later the doctor may prescribe painkillers in tablets.

Methods of pain relief

IN postoperative period It is possible to use several types of analgesics:

The easiest and most convenient is the oral method. When an epidural catheter is used, a person may experience pain, discomfort, and sometimes inflammation of nearby tissues develops, but there are times when this method is simply necessary.

The essence of this method is that the analgesic is injected using a puncture needle into the spinal cord area, and then a catheter is attached. Often the use of this method is accompanied by unpleasant sensations:

• nausea and vomiting;
• headache;
• drop in blood pressure;
• weakness in the legs.

Least often side effects observed when anesthetic gel or ointment is used.

Tablets help relieve pain in about half an hour, while pain-relieving injections after surgery have an effect within 2-3 minutes. Therefore, in order to relieve pain after surgery, doctors prescribe injections. Ointments and gels are often used as an additional remedy.

The most modern method is autoanalgesia, but in order to use it, a medical institution must have the appropriate material and technical base. With this method, an infusion pump is used to deliver analgesics into the blood. It has a button with which the patient can independently regulate the amount of medication received.

Pain relieving drugs

Modern analgesics are divided into 2 main groups - they can be narcotic and non-narcotic. Narcotic drugs there are:

• based on natural substances;
• semi-synthetic;
• synthetic.

These products have a number of distinctive features:

But these drugs are highly effective as strong painkillers. If you choose the right dose and use them for a short time, the risk of side effects is minimal. Pharmacies dispense narcotic drugs only with a special doctor’s prescription.

Non-narcotic drugs have a much less pronounced analgesic effect, but they also have an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect, which is important immediately after surgery. But, in addition to the undoubted benefits, these products can also cause harm if used incorrectly. Their side effects are a negative effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, and kidneys.

Narcotic painkillers

One of the most powerful narcotic analgesics is Morphine. An injection of this drug almost completely relieves a person of any pain. Morphine relieves pain in a few minutes and lasts for 5 hours.

Morphine is a powerful analgesic that other drugs cannot compete with. Therefore, usually, immediately after surgery, lighter drugs are prescribed, and only if they are insufficiently effective, Morphine is used. There are serious contraindications for its use:

• severe respiratory and liver pathologies;
• epilepsy;
• severe alcohol intoxication.

Morphine is available in the form of injections and tablets, the effectiveness of which is almost the same.

Morphine, among other components, is included in the composition of a drug such as Omnopon. This drug has the same strong analgesic effect as Morphine. Its difference is in fewer side effects. It is available only in injection form.

Promedol is a synthetic analogue of Morphine. The analgesic effect is somewhat weaker and the duration of action is shorter than that of Morphine. Its side effects are almost the same, with one exception - less depression of the respiratory center. Therefore, Promedol is used in cases where the use of Morphine is impossible, for example, when the patient has severe respiratory failure. Promedol is available in tablets and ampoules for injection.

Another synthetic opiate is Tramadol. It has a strong analgesic effect and has a duration of action of about 8 hours. Available in tablets and solution for injection, they have almost equal effect. Distinctive feature Tramadol: there are almost no side effects with its use. It is contraindicated only with strong drunkenness and its use is prohibited for pregnant women.

Non-narcotic analgesics

These drugs relieve pain much less effectively than their narcotic counterparts. Therefore, they are not used for the first time after surgery. Initially, opioid injections are prescribed, and then, after some time, tablets are used.

Diclofenac painkillers take effect in about 30 minutes. The drug has good absorption capacity, due to which its analgesic effect can manifest itself in any organ. The gold standard is how this product is rightfully called among its analogues.

Usually, injections of the drug are first prescribed, and a gradual transition to the tablet form of the drug is made.

Diclofenac has one serious drawback - a wide range of side effects. If it is used for a long time, the mucous membrane of the digestive tract is affected, and a stomach or duodenal ulcer may occur.

Nimesulide has fewer side effects. This is a more modern tool that is more secure. The analgesic properties are almost equal to Diclofenac, but Nimesulide has a longer duration of action. But the drug is not available in injection form, but only in tablets. Therefore, its use immediately after surgery is unjustified. If you use the product long time, the risk of side effects increases.

The most modern, reliable, safe and convenient of painkillers is Rofecoxib. In addition to tablets, it is also available in ampoules. Therefore, it is often used in the first days after surgery. A huge advantage of the drug is that it is practically safe. It does not affect the digestive system, so even patients with peptic ulcers can take it without fear. It has a long-lasting effect and reduces pain well.

Medicines available in every home

Products from this group can be purchased without a prescription at the pharmacy, and everyone probably has them at home. Of course, their effectiveness is quite controversial, since they have weak analgesic properties. But if some time has passed since the operation and the person has been discharged from the hospital, it is possible to use these analgesics to relieve residual mild postoperative pain.

Such drugs include Ketanov. There are certain restrictions when prescribing it. For example, it should not be taken by children under 16 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, people suffering from asthma, stomach ulcers and some other diseases. Otherwise, the drug is quite effective.

Analgin has a controversial reputation in modern medicine. It copes well with its main task, but at the same time it affects the hematopoietic system, kidneys, and liver. Modern doctors believe that analgin should be used in extreme cases, as far as possible.

Aspirin and Paracetamol are weak analgesics. They have been used in medicine for a long time and have a number of contraindications. For example, aspirin has bad influence on the mucous membrane of the digestive organs, and in children - on the liver.

However, any painkiller should be prescribed by the attending physician, especially during the period of postoperative rehabilitation.

The main objectives of the use of analgesics in the postoperative period are: eliminating the suffering caused by pain, creating psychological comfort and improving the quality of life of patients in the postoperative period; acceleration of postoperative functional rehabilitation; reduction in the incidence of postoperative complications; reduction of hospitalization time and cost of treatment.

It should be noted that currently in most developed countries Inadequate post-operative pain management is considered a violation of human rights and is carried out in accordance with accepted national and international standards. In our country, many clinics have introduced a formulary system for the use of medicinal drugs of certain groups, the feasibility of which is confirmed by evidence-based medicine, and is also determined by the needs and characteristics of a particular medical institution. Many authors believe that all surgical departments, as well as departments of anesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care, should have in their arsenal only those analgesics and anesthetics whose effectiveness and safety are confirmed by evidence I (systematized reviews and meta-analyses) and II (randomized controlled trials with certain results) level (Table 1).

Table 1. Drugs whose use for postoperative pain relief is justified by evidence-based medicine (Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence, 2- nd edition, 2005).

*infiltration of wound edges, intrapleural injection, prolonged blockade of peripheral nerves and plexuses, prolonged epidural analgesia.

World experience in postoperative pain management allows us to highlight the following main modern trends in the fight against PPS:

Widespread use of non-opioid analgesics - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol; in various European clinics, the frequency of prescribing these drugs as the basis for postoperative pain relief ranges from 45 to 99%;

Limiting the use of opioid analgesics, especially the intramuscular version of their administration, due to the low efficiency and significant number of side effects of this technique;

Widespread use of high-tech methods of pain relief - prolonged epidural analgesia through infusion of local anesthetics, as well as patient-controlled intravenous or epidural analgesia.

The multimodal nature of postoperative pain relief, i.e. the simultaneous administration of several drugs or methods of pain relief that can affect various mechanisms of pain formation.

The duration of postoperative pain relief is quite variable and depends both on the intensity of pain afferentation and, therefore, on the traumatic nature of the surgical intervention, and on the patient’s individual tolerance to pain. The need for targeted relief of PPS arises, as a rule, during the first 4 days of the postoperative period (Table 2).

Table 2. The need for pain relief after various operations.

It is clear that there is currently no ideal analgesic or treatment for acute postoperative pain. This is also related to the very presence in clinical practice of a whole list of possible methods for relieving PPS (Table 3). However, even with a whole arsenal of means and methods of postoperative pain relief, from the standpoint of common sense it would be logical to assert that preventing nociceptive stimulation leading to the development of pain, primarily by introducing NSAIDs, is much simpler and requires less medication than fighting with already developed severe pain. Thus, back in 1996 in Vancouver, the method of preventive analgesia with perioperative prescription of NSAIDs was recognized as a promising direction in the pathogenetic therapy of pain syndromes and is widely used by progressive clinics at present.

Table 3. Methods and means of postoperative pain relief.

Below are the main means and methods of pain relief used in modern surgical clinics from the standpoint of the balance of their effectiveness and safety.

Opioid analgesics.

This group of drugs has been considered the drug of choice for the relief of PPS for decades. However, at present, opioid analgesics are by no means the “gold standard” in the treatment of patients with acute pain. However, according to estimates by a number of domestic and foreign experts, the effectiveness of pain relief with the traditional prescription of opioids as monotherapy does not exceed 25-30%. However, the gradual alienation from excessive adherence to opioids in the postoperative period is associated not so much with their lack of effectiveness, but with a number of serious side effects that arise from their use (Table 4).

The main side effect associated with the use of natural opioids (morphine, promedol, omnopon) is depression of the respiratory center. The main problem is that the effective analgesic dose is often close to that which causes respiratory depression. In addition to respiratory depression, increasing the dose is limited by an increase in the frequency of other side effects, such as depression of consciousness, skin itching, nausea and vomiting, impaired intestinal motility, and difficulty urinating independently in the postoperative period. It should be noted that it is in abdominal surgery that all the negative effects of opioids manifest themselves to a greater extent than in other areas of surgery. This is primarily due to their negative effect on gastrointestinal motility, which also occurs (albeit to a lesser extent) with epidural administration of small doses of morphine. The latter circumstance was one of the reasons for the decline in popularity of postoperative epidural analgesia using hydrophilic opioids observed in recent years.

From a pharmacodynamics point of view, opioid analgesics are agonists or antagonists of various types of opioid receptors in the central nervous system (mu-, delta-, kappa-). Opioid drugs activate the endogenous antinociceptive system (central analgesia), but do not affect the peripheral and segmental non-opioid mechanisms of nociception and do not prevent central sensitization and hyperalgesia. Attempts to increase the effectiveness of pain relief and reduce the frequency of side effects of opioid analgesics are based on varying the methods of their administration (including in one patient): intravenous, intramuscular, epidural, transdermal, sublingual, rectal. The most common, but also the most unsafe and least effective way The administration of opioids is an intramuscular injection. This technique most often leads to inadequate pain relief - more than 60% of patients report unsatisfactory quality of postoperative analgesia. The reasons for this are that all patients are given fixed doses at standard time intervals, without taking into account individual variability in pharmacokinetics; opioid injections are often performed with long breaks, that is, when the pain syndrome is already severe and its relief, by definition, becomes ineffective. It is with intramuscular administration of opioids that respiratory depression most often develops, possibly associated with drug accumulation.

Table 4. Opioid analgesics for the relief of postoperative pain.

Significantly fewer side effects are caused by the use of the semisynthetic opioid tramadol. Tramadol hydrochloride is an analgesic that mediates the analgesic effect both through opioid receptors and by inhibiting the noradrenergic and serotonergic mechanisms of pain impulse transmission. Tramadol is characterized by relatively high bioavailability and long-lasting analgesic effect. However, the analgesic effect of tramadol is lower than that of morphine and promedol. A significant advantage of tramadol compared to other opioid analgesics is the extremely low degree of addiction and minimal narcotic potential of this drug. Unlike other opioids, in equianalgesic doses, tramadol does not cause constipation and does not depress blood circulation or respiration. However, tramadol is also characterized by the development of nausea, dizziness, and in rare cases, vomiting.

It is necessary to note another important aspect that limits the use of opioid analgesics in domestic clinical practice. Use of opioid analgesics for postoperative pain relief in Russian Federation strictly regulated by existing orders of governing health authorities. For example, Order No. 257 of the Moscow Department of Health of 2004 determines, in particular, the standard for the consumption of opioid drugs in ampoules per 1 bed of various surgical departments per year. Prescribing an opioid drug both in the surgical department and in the intensive care unit in most health care facilities is accompanied by a colossal number of formal difficulties, which often leads to medical staff refusing to use drugs even when it is necessary to prescribe opioids. According to those For the same reasons, the most modern method of using opioids - patient-controlled analgesia, which is most focused on the individual needs of the patient for pain relief - has not become widespread in Russia.

Non-opioid analgesics.

The term “non-opioid analgesics” refers to a group of different chemical structure, pharmacodynamics and, accordingly, the mechanism of pain relief of drugs used to relieve PPS with parenteral, less often oral, administration. Drugs of this group, used both as a monotherapy and as an adjuvant therapy, have different analgesic potential and a range of side effects (Table 5).

Table 5. Non-opioid analgesics for the management of postoperative pain.

From the data presented, it becomes obvious that the non-opioid analgesics listed in the table are used only as a possible addition to basic opioid therapy; the use of these drugs for the relief of PPS in a single variant is not practiced.

Formally, the group of non-opioid analgesics also includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen (paracetamol). However, due to the significant demand in modern surgical clinics, these drugs are now considered as separate subclasses of drugs for the relief of PPS.

Paracetamol.

Although acetaminophen (paracetamol) has a history of use as an analgesic and antipyretic for more than half a century, the exact mechanism of action of this drug is still unknown. It is assumed that there is a central mechanism of action of paracetamol, including: suppression of the activity of cyclooxygenase type 2 in the central nervous system, which is associated with the prevention of the development of secondary hyperalgesia; suppression of the activity of cyclooxygenase type 3, the existence of which is assumed and which, apparently, has selective sensitivity to paracetamol; increased activity of descending inhibitory serotonergic pathways at the stage of pain modulation.

The possibility of using paracetamol as a means to combat PBS appeared with the introduction of the dosage form into clinical practice this drug for intravenous infusion (Perfalgan®). Intravenous administration of paracetamol is used, as a rule, as a basic component of multimodal postoperative analgesia in various fields of surgery: traumatology, gynecology, dentistry. The analgesic effect of 1 g of intravenous paracetamol with 10 mg of morphine, 30 mg of ketorolac, 75 mg of diclofenac and 2.5 mg of metamizole. Currently, in European clinics, 90-95% of patients receive paracetamol in the postoperative period. Typically, the drug is administered intravenously during surgery, approximately 30 minutes before the end, which ensures a calm, painless awakening. Paracetamol is re-administered after 4 hours, and then every 6 hours, up to 4 g per day. It must be emphasized that the analgesic effect of paracetamol is fully manifested only when it is used as a component of multimodal analgesia, that is, when combined with other analgesics, including as part of combination drugs - Zaldiar® and Forsodol®, which contain paracetamol and tramadol (the drug is available only in tablet form, which often makes its use in the immediate postoperative period impossible). According to domestic experts and based on our own observations, the use of intravenous paracetamol alone does not effectively relieve PBS.

A potentially dangerous side effect of paracetamol is hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects, which can occur when the dose exceeds 4 g/day, especially if the patient has underlying liver and kidney dysfunction. Restrictions on the use of paracetamol are: hepatic cell failure with laboratory manifestations (increased transaminase levels), renal failure, alcoholism, nutritional deficiency, dehydration.

Local anesthetics.

The most important task of multimodal analgesia is to interrupt the afferent flow of nociceptive stimuli from peripheral pain receptors in organs and tissues to the segmental structures of the central nervous system (posterior horns of the spinal cord). This problem can be successfully solved using various methods of regional and local analgesia. An important role in expanding the use of regional analgesia methods was played by the emergence of modern local anesthetics (bupivocaine, ropivocaine), as well as detailed development of the regional blockade technique.

Epidural analgesia occupies a key position among all regional methods of postoperative pain relief. During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into the epidural space at the level of the thoracic or lumbar spine, through which local anesthetics are administered as a bolus or continuous infusion. Epidural anesthesia is both a means of providing analgesia during surgery (including as a single option) and a means of relieving PPS. Numerous studies have proven the fundamentally higher effectiveness of prolonged postoperative epidural analgesia compared to systemic administration of opioid analgesics. As mentioned above, opioid analgesics themselves can also be used to administer epidural anesthesia. It is known that epidural administration of local anesthetics and opioids significantly exceeds the analgesic effect of using these drugs separately. However, epidural opioid administration alone is associated with serious side effects ranging from respiratory depression to severe itching. Today it is generally accepted that the benefits of epidural administration of opioid analgesics in abdominal surgery do not outweigh the risk of complications of the epidural anesthesia technique itself compared with parenteral administration of similar drugs.

In addition to the analgesic effect itself, the positive effect of postoperative prolonged epidural analgesia is the interruption of descending sympathetic efferent impulses, which results in improved visceral blood flow (activation of reparative processes in the intervention area), increased activity of the parasympathetic nervous system (resolution of paresis of the digestive tube).

From the point of view of evidence-based medicine (Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence, 2nd edition, 2005), the advantages of prolonged epidural analgesia include: higher quality of pain relief compared to parenteral administration of opioids; improved gas exchange rates and reduced incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications compared with opioid analgesia; accelerating the recovery of gastrointestinal tract function after abdominal surgery and reducing the incidence of local complications.

However, epidural anesthesia also has a number of significant limitations. Epidural anesthesia itself is a complex invasive procedure, potentially dangerous in terms of the development of both local (infectious process, damage to nerve roots, arachnoid vessels, dura mater) and systemic complications (respiratory depression, cardiotoxic effects, arterial hypotension). In this regard, performing epidural anesthesia requires special skills from an anesthesiologist and constant monitoring of the patient’s condition in the intensive care unit, and less often in the surgical department.

In recent years, the technique of long-term infusion of local anesthetics into the cavity of the surgical wound has become increasingly popular. Several studies have shown that continuous infusion of local anesthetics over 24 to 48 hours through a wound catheter can improve pain relief and reduce the need for opioid analgesics. The work of domestic authors has shown that prolonged local anesthesia of a surgical wound due to the resorption of the local anesthetic and its presence in the plasma in low concentrations can have a systemic anti-inflammatory effect. As in the case of epidural analgesia, the effect of local anesthetics is due to the blockade of not only nociceptive pathways, but also sympathetic innervation. Speaking about the use of prolonged local anesthesia of a surgical wound, it should be noted that this technique is currently at the stage of clinical testing and its widespread implementation is initially limited by the obvious risk of exogenous infection of the wound and the real danger of systemic toxic effects of local anesthetics (arterial hypotension, arrhythmias, respiratory depression ) due to their resorption by tissues.

Multimodal perioperative analgesia.

From the above characteristics and, more importantly, the shortcomings of drugs and methods for relieving PPS, the obvious conclusion is that at present there is no ideal analgesic or method of treating acute postoperative pain. However, it is quite possible to get closer to solving the problem of the adequacy of postoperative analgesia by implementing in the clinic the concept of multimodal perioperative analgesia, which involves the simultaneous administration of two or more analgesics and/or methods of pain relief that have different mechanisms of action and allow achieving adequate analgesia while minimizing side effects before, during and after surgery (see figure).

Multimodal analgesia is currently the method of choice for postoperative pain management. Its basis is the prescription of non-opioid analgesics (primarily NSAIDs), which in patients with pain of moderate and high intensity is combined with the use of opioid analgesics, non-opioid analgesics and methods of regional analgesia. The choice of one or another multimodal analgesia scheme is determined primarily by the traumatic nature of the surgical intervention performed (Table 6).

Table 6. Options for multimodal perioperative analgesia schemes focused on the traumatic nature of surgical interventions.

After various kinds surgical intervention Patients experience pain (constant or intermittent) that requires safe pain relief. The causes of pain can be both increased sensitivity of the damaged area of ​​soft tissue and their swelling.

Filming severe pain after surgery with tablets containing narcotic substances. Since these drugs can cause negative reactions or addiction in the body, they should be used only as directed and under the supervision of a doctor.

Self-administration of potent analgesics leads to side effects (increased sedation, nausea). Only the attending physician prescribes the necessary drug, taking into account the characteristics of the patient’s body and the nature of the surgical procedures.

Effective painkillers

Tablets after surgery help alleviate the patient’s condition, relieve pain, prevent the development of the inflammatory process and restore his life potential, of which the most common painkillers with anti-inflammatory effects are:

Paracetamol is an analgesic with accelerated action and a low likelihood of developing negative effects when used. Depending on the degree of pain, combinations of drugs are prescribed - Solpadeine, Sedalgin-Neo, Pentalgin. From safe drugs that do not contain narcotic substances, used (for moderate pain): Ibuprofen, Citramon and Analgin.

Tramadol is a synthetic analgesic (opioid), of medium strength, which only in rare cases causes physical and mental dependence, and also does not have a negative effect on intestinal motility and respiratory function, and does not have a depressing effect on the patient’s blood circulation and psyche.

Zaldiar is a drug created by combining tramadol with paracetamol, which has an enhanced and long-lasting analgesic effect. If the necessary pain relief does not occur, then an additional dose of other analgesics is prescribed (for example, Diclofenac, Promedol).

Potent analgesic analgesics include tablets after surgery - Ketorol, Nise, Nurofen. Ketorol, as well as its derivatives (Toradol, Dolak, Ketorolac, Ketanov), are considered the most effective. Ketorol, having an antipyretic effect, is not intended for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, but only for pain relief.

In maxillofacial surgery, in addition to the listed drugs, the following are also used: Ketonal, Migrenol, Trigan-D, Dexalgin 25, Next. If necessary, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs after the operation (Mefenamic acid, Nimesil), and, for example, after a complex tooth extraction, strong antibiotics - Sumamed, Amoxiclav, Ceftriaxone, together with desensitizing tablets (Suprastin, Coaritin, Tavegil, Loratadine, Erius).

Before tooth extraction surgery, you should inform your doctor about what medications you are currently taking (anticoagulants, insulin, oral contraceptives) to make it easier for him to choose the necessary anesthetic, as well as to select the right medications for postoperative care.

After surgery, for example to remove a parathyroid tumor, it is recommended to take vitamin D and calcium tablets, which strengthen bone tissue.

Doctors do not recommend abusing the use of potent drugs, but using them only when necessary, since their constant use can cause the opposite result (increased pain). You should carefully study contraindications for use, weighing all the pros and cons.

What painkillers are prescribed after surgery?

What painkillers can be prescribed after surgery? This question worries many people, because no one is immune from surgical intervention. The human body has long been susceptible to the negative influence of microorganisms: bacteria and viruses that destroy human health. Pests of the body live by infecting human tissues and organs and, therefore, causing significant harm to human health.

Nowadays, medicine is developing so rapidly and rapidly that harmful microorganisms do not have time to adapt to various antibiotics, drugs and preparations. Thus, one of the most miraculous methods is surgery, during which one or another type of disease is eliminated. However, some people experience severe pain as they gradually recover from the anesthesia. How to extinguish severe pain, at least temporarily, if it even brings a person to tears?

Variety of drugs available today

Any medical substances (for example, painkillers, tablets or antibiotics) can help the human body achieve full health. The question, most likely, is not in the types of existing drugs, but in the correctness of their use. Thus, when any medical medicine is used incorrectly, a wide variety of negative consequences arise.

According to numerous social observations, the most common method of suicide is drug overdose.

Medicine is developing rapidly, making new discoveries almost every day. Today, painkillers after surgery are not something new or unattainable. So, if a patient experiences acute discomfort after an operation, a variety of medications come to the rescue.

If an operation relieves the human body of a disease, then why does a person experience acute malaise?

An operation is a medical intervention on the human body, the purpose of which is to eliminate a developing disease in the human body. Of course, the operation is carried out exclusively with the participation of doctors who have received a license in a particular field. However, the question arises: if the operation rids the body of the disease, why does the person feel unwell afterwards? The answer to this is the structural features of the human body. The fact is that human tissue is a collection of similar cells that perform the same functions. Almost every tissue of the human body is susceptible to the influence of third-party objects, which leads to its modifications. For example, when a knife cuts the tissue, tissue is destroyed and bleeding begins. A similar effect occurs during surgery: the tissues of the human body are amenable to surgical intervention, after which they undergo a process of “rehabilitation”.

To put it as simply as possible, the doctor destroyed the tissue (made an incision) and restored it (suturing the wound). The human body feels pain after an action has been performed, since the tissue, restoring its structure, excites the nervous system. It is known that the nervous system is the “foundation” of the human body. When nerve endings are excited, the human body receives signals in the form of pain.

Medicines, antibiotics and tablets that can help a person with pain

The pain experienced after surgery is very often so severe that a person cannot even move, as this brings him catastrophic discomfort. However, modern medicine is able to offer a variety of painkillers, drugs and antibiotics after surgery that can extinguish any, even the most severe pain that has arisen in the human body.

The traditional approach to treating a patient after surgery is to “combine” a variety of medications. Naturally, in order to avoid various injuries, you should not take them yourself. The attending physician should give you recommendations, after which you can proceed directly to the treatment itself. However, most often doctors prefer to treat their patients themselves.

The “combination” method consists of using a variety of medications, the purpose of which is to generally relieve pain after surgery. However, each medicine is unique in its own way and affects the human body depending on the specified composition. By building a “scheme” for taking medications, the doctor starts the process of pain relief in your body.

Today, painkillers are one of the best friends of the human body. Unique in their structure and action, these drugs can relieve the human body of severe pain.

Types of painkillers after surgery

One of the most popular painkillers for terrible pain after surgery is the famous paracetamol.

Penetrating into the source of fire, paracetamol tablets activate the vital processes of the human body, which contributes to the speedy recovery of the affected area of ​​the body.

Painkillers are sold in almost every modern pharmacy and have a relatively low price.

Pain relief from the body after surgery often occurs with the help of Ketone tablets. This type of medicine is not used for chronic diseases and has a number of limitations. For example, the drug should not be taken by: children under 16 years of age, pregnant women, breastfeeding, asthma, diathesis, ulcers, and so on. Thus, under the influence of this drug, pain relief occurs not only after surgery, but also, for example, with osteochondrosis, menstruation, fractures, tissue structure disorders, oncology, abdominal pain and even after the removal of a diseased tooth.

It is important to have a medicine such as aspirin. This drug helps to cope with pain in different parts of the human body, as well as at high temperatures. However, like all drugs, aspirin has a number of limitations. For example, the use of the drug is contraindicated for inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, pain during menstruation and for children, including adolescence. Thus, the use of aspirin can cause the development of liver disease in adolescents and even affect the human brain. By the way, aspirin is quite cheap.

One of the controversial painkillers of modern medicine is analgin, which has an effect on the human body. For example, it is much more effective than paracetamol. However, this drug negatively affects the circulatory system, liver, kidneys and lymphatic system. Modern doctors are of the opinion that this device should be used only in case of critical need. For example, when other painkillers did not have the desired effect.

Medicines that have a positive effect after surgery are injections. Typically, the attending physician independently prescribes the required dosage of the medication, which is subsequently used by the nurse.

Conclusions can be drawn

Pain management after surgery is one of the most popular topics in modern medicine. Almost every day modern doctors try to discover new means that can help best effect on the human body. If you experience pain after surgery, you should contact your doctor.

However, you should not use painkillers for long-term pain, as you may not notice the development of any illness. In this case, you need to go to the hospital and get examined by your doctor. Remember that you should not engage in “self-medication”, as this will not lead to anything good.

Painkiller injections after surgery

Painkillers for injections after surgery. Names and applications

The use of analgesics of various groups during postoperative rehabilitation is due to the elimination of pain, improving the patient’s quality of life, reducing complications and length of stay in a medical institution.

Pain relief after surgery helps the body recover faster

What painkilling injections are there after surgery? Types and features of drugs

Hospitals and clinics operate a formulary system for the use of medications of various groups. Their application depends on the characteristics and needs of each specific case. The need for use must be confirmed by medical research.

Painkiller injections after surgery. Pain relieving drugs

Drugs intended for analgesia in the postoperative period are presented in the table.

Strong narcotic analgesics

In turn, narcotic drugs are divided into:

• synthetic;
• semi-synthetic;
• based on natural ingredients.

Drugs in this group have a strong analgesic effect. It is this property that is most important in the postoperative state.

Painkilling injections after surgery, namely the use of opiates, are justified during the first 3 days after complex operations. Continued use may have a negative impact on the human psyche. This is due to the fact that the drugs cause a psychotropic effect for some time, as a result of which drug addiction can develop.

Side effects from injections with these drugs can be:

• vomit;
• nausea;
• increased intestinal tone;
• disturbances in the functioning of the heart.

The occurrence of such unpleasant consequences can be avoided by correct dosage and short-term use.

Attention! The use of opioid painkiller injections after surgery is permitted only in accordance with certain standards and in cases established by the relevant law of the Russian Federation in the field of healthcare.

Drugs that do not contain narcotics provide weaker pain relief. Their advantage is the relief of heat and inflammation in the body. It is this ability that makes them indispensable for use after surgery.

Improper use of such drugs can lead to a deterioration in the patient's condition.

Injectable painkillers used after surgery

Ketonal

Ketonal is often used to eliminate postoperative pain. It simultaneously relieves pain, reduces temperature and works as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Pain most often appears and intensifies precisely because of inflammation of various etiologies.

The process of stopping the lesion occurs by blocking some enzymes. They contribute to the appearance of an inflammatory process in the body.

Regarding the antipyretic ability, there is an assumption that the synthesis of prostaglandins, which causes an increase in temperature, is disrupted due to the influence of the active substance Ketonal - ketoprofen.

The drug belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the use of which has its positive and negative sides.

• postoperative inflammation;
• various types of arthritis and arthrosis;
• Bekhterev's disease;
• neuralgia with severe pain;
• oncological diseases with painful manifestations;
• inflammation of the tendons (tendenitis).

The main contraindication to the use of Ketonal injections, as well as other painkillers, is coronary artery bypass surgery.

Other contraindications include:

• individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
• diseases of the bronchopulmonary system;
• cardiac failure;
• stomach or duodenal ulcer.

Ketonal should be used with caution in the following situations:

• pathology of the liver and kidneys;
• hemophilia;
• lactation and childbearing; Carefully! Ketonal injections must be prescribed by a doctor with a clear calculation of the dosage and timing of use - no more than 5 days. Violation of these rules can lead to severe disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. to contents

Dexalgin

The injection drug Dexalgin is a strong analgesic and is effective against inflammation. When the active substance Dexalgin enters the bloodstream, it begins to work within 5-10 minutes. The lasting effect of pain relief reaches 8 hours.

Prescribed to relieve pain in the following conditions:

• period of postoperative rehabilitation;
• radiculitis;
• osteochondrosis;
• neuralgia;
• various injuries;
• severe migraine.

Anesthetic injections after surgery and in other cases are prescribed with caution to people with problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

• pregnancy and lactation;
• children under 14 years of age;
• various internal bleeding;
• asthma;
• angina pectoris;
• stomach ulcer. Important! Dexalgin enhances the effect of opiates. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the dosage of narcotic drugs when used in combination with this drug. The combination of Dexalgin with drugs of the same group (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), salicylates (Aspirin) and anticoagulants (Deltaparin) is also prohibited. to contents

Flamax

The drug is a non-hormonal and anti-inflammatory agent. The main active ingredient (ketoprofen) is quickly absorbed into the blood plasma, acting on the receptors that are responsible for pain. As a result, not only pain disappears, but also fever and chills. Due to its ability to inhibit the process of platelet aggregation, Flamax reduces blood clotting.

Indications for use:

• pain after operations, injuries;
• articular syndrome;
• muscle pain;
• pathology of the spine with an inflammatory process;
• inflammation of the pelvic organs.

As an additional therapy, it is used in the treatment of lymph nodes and veins.

It is prescribed with caution in the treatment of pregnant women and the elderly, hypertension and asthmatics.

Completely contraindicated for:

• ulcers, erosions, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract;
• liver or kidney pathologies;
• low blood clotting;
• children under 15 years of age.

Anesthetic injections after surgery (namely Flamax) can be combined with other forms of the drug and centrally acting analgesics (Acupan, Nalbuphine).

Diclofenac

The drug also belongs to the group of non-steroidal analgesics. Its main properties are:

1. Reducing tissue swelling.
2. Impact on the center of inflammation and its relief.
3. Reduced blood clotting by reducing platelet aggregation.
4. The ability to quickly reduce pain intensity for up to 8 hours. This property is especially valuable for the use of Diclofenac pain-relieving injections after surgery.

The use of injections is justified not only in the postoperative period, but in the case of:

• infectious diseases;
• inflammation in the genitourinary system;
• necrological disorders;
• oncology;
• bone pathologies;
• injury to any part of the body;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

The use of the drug is possible in case of urgent need for bronchial asthma and pulmonary diseases.

Absolute contraindications are:

• breastfeeding and pregnancy;
• intestinal inflammation;
• ulcer;
• pathologies of the circulatory system;
• children under 18 years of age;
• intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid;
• kidney and liver diseases. Carefully! Diclofenac injections should not be given before driving because they may cause loss of coordination. It is prohibited to combine alcohol consumption with the use of the drug. This may make the side effects of the medication worse. to contents

Nimesulide

It has a triple effect on the body - relieves fever, pain and reduces inflammation. The active substance reduces the possibility of blood clots and promotes blood thinning. By influencing the process of histamine release, Nimesulide causes bronchospasm less often than other drugs.

A distinctive feature is its antioxidant effect by inhibiting the oxidation process and reducing the amount of harmful free radicals.

Application is indicated in the following cases:

• pain after surgery;
• myalgia;
• post-traumatic pain;
• all types of arthritis;
• bursitis;
• inflammation of the respiratory system;
• osteochondrosis.

Contraindications to the use of injections are:

• chronic intestinal inflammation in the acute phase;
• bronchial asthma;
• increased potassium levels in the blood;
• duodenal or gastric ulcer;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• children under 12 years of age;
• allergies or intolerance to individual components.

In hospitals and clinics, pain-relieving injections are most often used after surgery. Analgesia can not only quickly and permanently improve the patient’s well-being, but also help him recover without complications. Do not forget that the use of painkillers should be carried out only as prescribed by a doctor.

An ideal analgesic that does not have a negative effect on the body has not yet been invented. But the use of painkillers is the simplest and most inexpensive way to get rid of an unpleasant condition. It is much more difficult and longer to treat an already active pain syndrome.

This video talks about how to give painkilling injections after surgery and not only on your own:

This video explains about painkillers and how to take them:

This video discusses the safety of pain medications:

The most powerful painkillers and injections

If a person’s pain intensifies, strong painkilling injections are prescribed. Only a doctor can prescribe such drugs.

Many have significant contraindications.

In modern medicine, all painkillers are divided into 2 groups:

The most common narcotic painkillers are the following drugs: morphine, codeine, they are classified as opioid drugs.

Also widely used are:

Anesthesia is performed to partially or completely eliminate pain. Depending on the etiology of the disease and its symptoms, the severity of the disease, appropriate pain relief is carried out; moreover, if painkillers in the form of tablets do not help, the person is given intramuscular or intravenous injections.

Use after surgery

After surgery, injections with a strong analgesic effect are most often administered in combination with other analgesics - paracetamol and a narcotic analgesic.

The following drugs deserve attention in medical practice:

1. An anesthetic injection of Ketorol relieves exacerbation in the postoperative period. Its main active ingredient is ketorolac, which helps reduce severe pain. Contraindicated in people with intolerance to the drug, if there is an allergy to aspirin, ulcers, bronchial asthma, various postoperative bleeding, liver and kidney diseases. The drug should not be used for a long time.
2. Rofecoxib, or Denebol, is one of the most modern drugs; it is reliable and easy to use. Its properties are to suppress the synthesis of the inflammatory process. The drug has a long duration of action and is safe: it can be prescribed to patients with peptic ulcer disease.

Application in oncology

The strongest painkillers postoperative injections for oncology are divided into 3 groups:

Analgesics are prescribed depending on the stage of the disease and the degree of pain.

If the pain syndrome is severe, opiates are used, with moderate pain syndrome - non-narcotic content, with mild pain - auxiliary painkillers.

• diamorphine is used for pain relief only in incurable patients, when it is necessary to alleviate the patient’s condition;
• Tramal is a narcotic analgesic that is quickly absorbed into the blood, therefore promoting rapid pain relief.

Of course, the most powerful painkilling injections are drugs of the narcotic group; they are administered for the most severe forms of oncology and other diseases. They are of particular value because they produce a strong analgesic effect in the postoperative period.

Hydromorphone, oxidone, morphine and other drugs are a type of one group of substances that have common indications for use, differing in doses and time of use. They are considered the most powerful drugs.

These remedies involve complete relief from pain during the period of operation of the active substance. Pain relief occurs almost immediately.

All drugs in the opiate group cause side effects, depending on the drug (to a greater or lesser extent):

Contraindications to the use of prescriptions for opiates occur in the following cases:

• individual hypersensitivity to the drug;
• in case of conditions associated with respiratory depression or severe depression of the central nervous system;
• with severe liver and kidney failure;
• drug withdrawal syndrome.

In almost all cases where pain relief is necessary, from the simplest headache or abdominal pain to the most complex operations, modern medicine uses intramuscular and intravenous injections based on diclofenac, ketorolac or ketoprofen. Sometimes pills are prescribed.

Effective and proven pain-relieving joint injections

List of painkillers in the form of injections for joint pain:

1. Hydrocortisone is the best anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic agent; broad-spectrum drug. There is a caution when injecting: no more than 3 joints are injected in one day, then you need to take a three-week break. The same joint can only be treated 3 times a year.
2. Prednisolone is the best analogue of hydrocortisone and can reduce inflammation. Cannot be used for a long time due to a decrease in the body's resistance to infections.

Use for back pain

Cases of administering painkilling injections for back pain are as follows:

1. Inflammation of muscle tissue, hernias, lumbago in the lower back, arthritis.
2. For lower back pain and neuroses of various etiologies, non-steroidal drugs are used.
3. In case of lumbago, to restore the motor function of the body.

Such drugs include:

1. Diclofenac is a fairly common painkiller that can quickly, sometimes with one injection, localize pain, but it has strong side effects: this drug must be taken very carefully by people suffering from diseases of the stomach, liver, and kidneys. Since the medicine is strong, the course of treatment is usually 5 days. It is not recommended to take the drug for people with ulcers, chronic cholecystitis or gastritis, pregnant women and young children.
2. For hernias, betamethosone is administered, which promotes almost instantaneous elimination of the source of inflammation. Betamethasone is not only an anti-inflammatory, but also an anti-allergic agent. The drug should not be used for skin tuberculosis or skin infections of various etiologies.
3. Ketonal is the best anti-inflammatory medicine, is not only an analgesic, but also an antipyretic. The substance is based on ketaprofen, which does not negatively affect articular cartilage, as a result of which it is prescribed for injuries to the back muscles, rheumatoid and reactive arthritis, myalgia, osteoarthritis, and radiculitis. It is recommended to use with caution in elderly people.

Ketonal should not be used if:

• ulcer;
• blood clotting pathologies;
• severe renal, liver and heart failure;
• various types bleeding or suspected bleeding;
• It is not recommended for use by children, pregnant women and women during breastfeeding.

Useful video on the topic

What else you should definitely read:

Use for painful periods

For periods accompanied by severe pain and sometimes nausea, pain-relieving injections of No-shpa are prescribed. The main active ingredient is drotaverine hydrochloride. There is a specially developed formula for injections during menstrual pain.

• Do not use the drug in case of hypersensitivity to the drug;
• with severe renal, hepatic or heart failure;
• for medical reasons.

Medicines to relieve pain after surgery

During the operation, tissues, muscles, bones are damaged, so the person feels pain. Painkillers after surgery help relieve a person of pain, resulting in the body recovering more effectively. Pain is a signal that not all is well in the human body. It does not allow you to ignore the problem that has arisen. Each person relates to pain in his own way and has his own pain threshold. It is quite natural that every person who has undergone or is about to undergo surgery is interested in the question of what relieves pain after surgery.

Any operation is a huge stress for a person, especially one who has a low pain threshold. The postoperative period is necessarily accompanied by significant pain, this needs to be understood, but there is no need to endure it. Therefore, after surgery, it is imperative to prescribe powerful analgesics that will help improve a person’s well-being and make the recovery period shorter and more effective. Painkillers, which are available in every home, are unlikely to help here. Immediately after surgery, pain-relieving injections are usually used, and later the doctor may prescribe pills.

Methods of pain relief

After surgery, several types of analgesics can be used:

• tablets or syrups - products used orally;
• ointments;
• injections;
• venous cannulas;
• epidural catheter.

The easiest and most convenient is the oral method. When an epidural catheter is used, a person may experience pain, discomfort, and sometimes inflammation of nearby tissues develops, but there are times when this method is simply necessary.

The essence of this method is that the analgesic is injected using a puncture needle into the spinal cord area, and then a catheter is attached. Often the use of this method is accompanied by unpleasant sensations:

• nausea and vomiting;
• headache;
• drop in blood pressure;
• weakness in the legs.

Side effects are least common when an anesthetic gel or ointment is used.

Tablets help relieve pain in about half an hour, while pain-relieving injections after surgery have an effect within 2-3 minutes. Therefore, in order to relieve pain after surgery, doctors prescribe injections. Ointments and gels are often used as an additional remedy.

The most modern method is autoanalgesia, but in order to use it, a medical institution must have the appropriate material and technical base. With this method, an infusion pump is used to deliver analgesics into the blood. It has a button with which the patient can independently regulate the amount of medication received.

What types of analgesics are there?

Modern analgesics are divided into 2 main groups - they can be narcotic and non-narcotic. Narcotic drugs are:

• based on natural substances;
• semi-synthetic;
• synthetic.

These products have a number of distinctive features:

1. They have a strong analgesic effect, this property is especially valuable after surgery.
2. They can have some psychotropic effect, improve mood, bring a person into a state of euphoria, as a result of which drug addiction can develop. Therefore, these drugs are used for a limited time.
3. Serious side effects may occur. Sometimes when using these drugs, nausea and vomiting occurs, cardiac activity is disrupted, and intestinal tone increases.

But these drugs are highly effective as strong painkillers. If you choose the right dose and use them for a short time, the risk of side effects is minimal. Pharmacies dispense narcotic drugs only with a special doctor’s prescription.

Non-narcotic drugs have a much less pronounced analgesic effect, but they also have an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect, which is important immediately after surgery. But, in addition to the undoubted benefits, these products can also cause harm if used incorrectly. Their side effects are a negative effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, and kidneys.

Characteristics of narcotic painkillers

One of the most powerful narcotic analgesics is Morphine. An injection of this drug almost completely relieves a person of any pain. Morphine relieves pain in a few minutes and lasts for 5 hours.

Morphine is a powerful analgesic that other drugs cannot compete with. Therefore, usually, immediately after surgery, lighter drugs are prescribed, and only if they are insufficiently effective, Morphine is used. There are serious contraindications for its use:

• severe respiratory and liver pathologies;
• epilepsy;
• severe alcohol intoxication.

Morphine is available in the form of injections and tablets, the effectiveness of which is almost the same.

Morphine, among other components, is included in the composition of a drug such as Omnopon. This drug has the same strong analgesic effect as Morphine. Its difference is in fewer side effects. It is available only in injection form.

Promedol is a synthetic analogue of Morphine. The analgesic effect is somewhat weaker and the duration of action is shorter than that of Morphine. Its side effects are almost the same, with one exception - less depression of the respiratory center. Therefore, Promedol is used in cases where the use of Morphine is impossible, for example, when the patient has severe respiratory failure. Promedol is available in tablets and ampoules for injection.

Another synthetic opiate is Tramadol. It has a strong analgesic effect and has a duration of action of about 8 hours. Available in tablets and solution for injection, they have almost equal effect. A distinctive feature of Tramadol: when used, there are almost no side effects. It is contraindicated only in cases of severe alcohol intoxication and its use is prohibited for pregnant women.

Characteristics of non-narcotic analgesics

These drugs relieve pain much less effectively than their narcotic counterparts. Therefore, they are not used for the first time after surgery. Initially, opioid injections are prescribed, and then, after some time, tablets are used.

Painkillers after surgery Diclofenac take effect in about 30 minutes. The drug has good absorption capacity, due to which its analgesic effect can manifest itself in any organ. Therefore, it is widely used in a wide variety of types of surgical interventions. The gold standard is how this product is rightfully called among its analogues.

Usually, injections of the drug are first prescribed, and a gradual transition to the tablet form of the drug is made.

Diclofenac has one serious drawback - a wide range of side effects. If it is used for a long time, the mucous membrane of the digestive tract is affected, and a stomach or duodenal ulcer may occur.

Nimesulide has fewer side effects. This is a more modern tool that is more secure. The analgesic properties are almost equal to Diclofenac, but Nimesulide has a longer duration of action. But the drug is not available in injection form, but only in tablets. Therefore, its use immediately after surgery is unjustified. If you use the product for a long time, the risk of side effects increases.

The most modern, reliable, safe and convenient of painkillers is Rofecoxib. In addition to tablets, it is also available in ampoules. Therefore, it is often used in the first days after surgery. A huge advantage of the drug is that it is practically safe. It does not affect the digestive system, so even patients with peptic ulcers can take it without fear. It has a long-lasting effect and reduces pain well.

Medicines available in every home

Products from this group can be purchased without a prescription at the pharmacy, and everyone probably has them at home. Of course, their effectiveness immediately after surgery is quite controversial, since they have weak analgesic properties. But if some time has passed since the operation and the person has been discharged from the hospital, it is possible to use these analgesics to relieve residual mild postoperative pain.

Such drugs include Ketanov. There are certain restrictions when prescribing it. For example, it should not be taken by children under 16 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, people suffering from asthma, stomach ulcers and some other diseases. Otherwise, the drug is quite effective.

Analgin has a controversial reputation in modern medicine. It copes well with its main task, but at the same time it affects the hematopoietic system, kidneys, and liver. Modern doctors believe that analgin should be used in extreme cases.

Aspirin and Paracetamol are weak analgesics. They have been used in medicine for a long time and have a number of contraindications. For example, aspirin has a negative effect on the mucous membrane of the digestive organs, and in children, on the liver.

However, any pain medication should be prescribed by your doctor, especially in such serious situations as a condition after surgery. Currently, there are many modern means that can significantly improve a person’s well-being after surgery and help his body fully recover.

How is pain relief performed after surgery?

Pain is a protective reaction of the body. It alerts a person to a problem and prevents them from ignoring it. After surgery, due to damage to tissues, muscles, and bones, a pain impulse occurs that travels along the nerves to the brain. Taking analgesics makes it possible to block it, effectively restore the body after surgery, and save the patient from suffering.

Pain relief after surgery: goals and effectiveness

Postoperative pain management is aimed at eliminating pain and creating good conditions to restore the body. Each person has their own pain threshold and attitude towards pain. Poor quality analgesia causes severe discomfort, unpleasant emotions, and interferes with sleep. To avoid this, drugs are prescribed even before the formation of a pain impulse, taking into account the degree of tissue damage and the patient’s well-being. Anesthesia during pregnancy is carried out according to special schemes, taking into account the degree of benefit/risk for the mother and fetus.

Tip: to correctly measure pain, use the so-called pain ruler (a ten-point scale of pain intensity). If you do not feel a significant effect from the analgesic, ask to measure your indicator and make adjustments to the pain management regimen.

Analgesia methods

Using an epidural catheter

After surgery, painkillers are prescribed orally (to be taken orally: tablets, syrups), topically in the form of ointments, or injected into the blood or muscles using an injection, venous cannula, or epidural catheter. The first method is the simplest, safest and most convenient. But the latter method often causes pain, discomfort, and can provoke the development of inflammation at the injection site, but in some cases it cannot be avoided. When using an epidural catheter (before surgery, the anesthesiologist uses a puncture needle to inject an anesthetic into the epidural space between the dura mater of the spinal cord and the periosteum of the vertebrae, and then connects the catheter), during or after the intervention the patient may feel unpleasant symptoms:

• nausea, vomiting;
• weakness in the legs;
• urinary disturbance;
• decreased blood pressure;
• headache, back pain.

When using ointments and gels with an analgesic effect, the likelihood of side effects is minimal.

Different types of conduction anesthesia (plexus - affects the nerve plexuses, trunk, epidural, spinal, when the nerve trunks and plexuses above the operation site are blocked) allow for high-quality anesthesia during operations on the abdominal organs, pelvis, and extremities.

The most complete answers to questions on the topic: “painkillers after joint surgery.”

Pain is a protective reaction of the body. It alerts a person to a problem and prevents them from ignoring it. After surgery, due to damage to tissues, muscles, and bones, a pain impulse occurs that travels along the nerves to the brain. Taking analgesics makes it possible to block it, effectively restore the body after surgery, and save the patient from suffering.

Pain relief after surgery: goals and effectiveness

Postoperative pain relief is aimed at eliminating pain and creating good conditions for the body to recover. Each person has their own pain threshold and attitude towards pain. Poor quality analgesia causes severe discomfort, unpleasant emotions, and interferes with sleep. To avoid this, drugs are prescribed even before the formation of a pain impulse, taking into account the degree of tissue damage and the patient’s well-being. Anesthesia during pregnancy is carried out according to special schemes, taking into account the degree of benefit/risk for the mother and fetus.

Advice: To correctly measure pain, a so-called pain scale (a ten-point scale of pain intensity) is used. If you do not feel a significant effect from the analgesic, ask to measure your indicator and make adjustments to the pain management regimen.

Analgesia methods

Using an epidural catheter

After surgery, painkillers are prescribed orally (to be taken orally: tablets, syrups), topically in the form of ointments, or injected into the blood or muscles using an injection, venous cannula, or epidural catheter. The first method is the simplest, safest and most convenient. But the latter method often causes pain, discomfort, and can provoke the development of inflammation at the injection site, but in some cases it cannot be avoided. When using an epidural catheter (before surgery, the anesthesiologist uses a puncture needle to inject an anesthetic into the epidural space between the dura mater of the spinal cord and the periosteum of the vertebrae, and then connects the catheter), during or after the intervention the patient may feel unpleasant symptoms:

• nausea, vomiting;
• weakness in the legs;
• urinary disturbance;
• decreased blood pressure;
• headache, back pain.

When using ointments and gels with an analgesic effect, the likelihood of side effects is minimal.

Different types of conduction anesthesia (plexus - affects the nerve plexuses, trunk, epidural, spinal, when the nerve trunks and plexuses above the operation site are blocked) allow for high-quality anesthesia during operations on the abdominal organs, pelvis, and extremities.

The most popular types of analgesic drugs

An obligatory component of pain therapy is drugs that support the microflora of the stomach and intestines.

Painkillers begin to act approximately half an hour after administration, rectal suppositories (introduced into the rectum) act faster. But the injections give the expected result within a few minutes. You need to take medications regularly at certain times. In some cases, anesthetic ointments for topical use are additionally recommended (for example, Kategel, Eplan).

Advice: if the material and technical base of the medical institution allows, the patient may be offered autoanalgesia (ASA) in combination with epidural, intravenous medication, when painkillers are supplied using an infusion pump with a button. With its help, the patient can control the dose himself (the device is programmed so that more than the permissible amount will not be delivered).

Most doctors agree that several analgesic medications should be taken in a staggered order after hospital discharge. Then the effect of one remedy will continue the effect of the other without unnecessary harm to the body.

Advice: Ketanov (available in the form of tablets, solution for injections) can cause severe gastric upsets, so it should be taken strictly on the recommendation of a doctor and not exceed the optimal dose and duration of administration (no more than 5 days).

High-quality analgesia, including local analgesia in the form of an ointment or gel, will make the postoperative period easier for the patient and will provide an opportunity to carry out effective rehabilitation of the body and quickly return to normal life.

Attention! The information on the site is presented by specialists, but is for informational purposes only and cannot be used for independent treatment. Be sure to consult your doctor!

During surgery, tissues, muscles, and bones are damaged, so the person feels pain. Painkillers after surgery help relieve a person of pain, resulting in the body recovering more effectively. Pain is a signal that not all is well in the human body. It does not allow you to ignore the problem that has arisen. Each person relates to pain in his own way and has his own pain threshold. It is quite natural that every person who has undergone or is about to undergo surgery is interested in the question of what relieves pain after surgery.