Dr. Chambers Postoperative Pain Management Protocol 

Pain after surgery is normal and should be expected. Tons of research has gone into the optimal amount of pain medication required for each procedure. However not every patient’s pain is perceived the same and therefore uniform pain recommendations are difficult if not impossible. The goal is to make the patient comfortable while you heal. Before taking anti-inflammatories/tylenol check with primary care physician as some patients aren’t allowed to take these medications (patients with Stomach Ulcers, Kidney, Liver, or heart disease). 

Most pain only lasts 48 hours. Often numbing medication is placed during surgery which  will help during the initial 2-3 hours after surgery.

Elevation and motion (if allowed) will help because swelling often equals pain.

Pain Medication Recommendations:  Aleve 220 mg and Tylenol Arthritis 650 mg

Aleve (Naproxen) 220mg  TWO  times a day 

-> AND <-

Tylenol Arthritis  650 mg THREE times a day. 

The maximum amount of tylenol allowed per day is 3000mg. Check other medications (narcotics) to ensure you are not going over.  Tylenol arthritis is not the same as Extra Strength Tylenol or Tylenol PM. Please check the dosage amounts. If ibuprofen is exchanged for aleve then the maximum dose per day is 2400 mg a day.

You should start before the pain develops and continue for at least two days after unless controlled. 

What if I received an opioid prescription?

Most hand surgery does not require pain medication and if you haven’t received a prescription then it was most often done on purpose. If you have one then you have the option to get it filled. I recommend waiting as narcotic opioids don’t treat the problem. Opioids act only in the pain receptors in the brain and therefore don’t help treat the  problem (swelling at your surgery site). Anti-inflammatories and tylenol help reduce inflammation/swelling. If you decided to take pain medication please take a stool softener with your medication to prevent constipation.