Dr Hamish Mace, Anaesthetist
Pain Relief
Background pain relief
These drugs are the mainstay of your post operative pain relief:
1. Paracetamol - take regularly until your pain has disappeared
2. Anti-inflammatory (celecoxib or ibuprofen) - take regularly as prescribed. Usually a course of five days.
Second line
Take for break through pain which is unresponsive to paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory
1. Tapentadol - 50mg or 100mg every four hours as required
OR
2. Tramadol 50mg or 100mg every four hours as required
Third line
You may be prescribed small amounts of a strong opioid medication to treat severe pain. This should be used sparingly and only when required. Examples - oxycodone, buprenorphine.
Fourth line
Long acting medication in the form of slow release tablets (tapentadol XR) or buprenorphine patches are very useful alternatives for pain that is likely to persist for a few days. You may also have adjuncts prescribed for a short period that work more on nerve type pain. These include pregabalin and amitriptyline.