Pain Relief

Background pain relief

These drugs are the mainstay of your post operative pain relief:

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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

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1. Tapentadol - 50mg or 100mg every four hours as required

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OR

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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.