Pain Management
Most surgery can result in at least mild or moderate pain. Some operations can result in severe pain. It may not be possible to totally remove all pain but Dr Lim will try to make you as comfortable as possible.
There are a number of techniques, which are used to try and manage your pain. The aim is to use different drugs and techniques to reduce the pain to a manageable level. At all times safety considerations will come first.
Oral Pain Medications
Oral pain medications are the mainstay of pain management. For mild to moderate pain, nurses will offer you tablets for your pain that are prescibed for you by Dr Lim. Ask for pain relief early as it may take up to an hour for the medications to be absorbed and be effective. Injections as left as a last resort.
Local anaesthetics
This will often be injected into the surgical site before the end of the surgery. If suitable, nerve blocks may be preformed prior to or before the end of surgery.
Spinal injections and Epidurals
Spinal injections of pain medications are commonly used for knee and hip
operations. They are also used for abdominal operations. Epidurals are also
commonly used for abdominal operations, knee and hip replacements.
Patient Controlled Pain Pumps
Pain pumps are commonly used. You will be provided with instructions
about the use of the pain pump. Please refer to "how to use the pain pump" page under General info
Dr Lim may visit you on the ward to check on the effectiveness and safety
of the pain techniques.
Once these specialized techniques are stopped, you will be offered oral pain medications. Pain medications via injections should be left as a last resort.
Often you will be given a supply of pain medications when you go home. This is often the surgeon’s responsibility especially if you are in hospital for more than 1 day.
St John of God, Bunbury have information on how to use a pain pump. Dr Lim will give you instructions as well. The nursing staff will also continue to help you use this device while yo are in hospital. You may download the St John's information here. You can read Dr Lim's instructions here.
Together with you, Dr Lim will ascertain the optimal pain management technique for your particular surgery,
