Managing Pain After Ovarian Cancer Surgery
- Pain management is a priority for both you and your doctor.
- An abdominal block injection administered during surgery minimizes the need for narcotic pain management afterward.
- After surgery, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory medications similar to ibuprofen taken around the clock keep most pain well-controlled.
- Movement helps alleviate post surgery pain, so the sooner you're up and walking the better.
Dr. Rabbie Hanna, gynecologic oncologist with the Henry Ford Health System, says he carefully explains pain management to his patients so they'll know what to expect. Intraoperatively, or during surgery, he and his anesthesia team provide abdominal block injections, which numb nerves going to the abdominal wall and also minimize the need for narcotic drugs afterward. Following surgery, round the clock nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants usually keep pain well controlled. Some women may receive an epidural after surgery, which numbs the lower half of the body.
Read More "The goal of pain management is to get patients up and moving around as soon as possible after surgery," says Hanna. "Movement, even on the day of surgery, makes a huge difference," not just for managing postoperative discomfort but also to encourage a faster return of bladder and bowl function. Moving may lessen your chance of developing complications and will help speed the healing and recovery process. Before your surgery, be sure to let your healthcare team know if you're taking any pain meds at home on a regular basis, or if you're allergic to or cannot tolerate any particular medications. The challenge, says Hanna, is talking openly with patients beforehand not to scare them or create undue anxiety but so they are well prepared. "We mix the art of medicine with the science of medicine to make sure that when the information is presented it's done in a balanced way."
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