Tag: pain

pain
Posted on / by western orthopaedics / in Pain, Surgery

Managing Pain After Surgery

Whilst it’s completely normal that you will experience some pain after your surgery, Dr Sunner and his staff work on making sure you receive the proper care for your recovery.

Post-surgery, Dr Sunner and the Western Orthopedics team will discuss the type of discomfort that you will experience, and approximately how long this discomfort is expected to last for.

Before Surgery

Before surgery please inform Dr Sunner:

• Where you feel pain and how much you have
• What makes it better or worse
• What methods you are using to control it
• If you take medicines to manage your pain on a regular basis
• If you have any allergies or have had reactions to medicine
• If you are currently taking any natural products
• If you smoke
• If you drink more than two alcoholic drinks per day
• If you take illegal drugs

Medication

It is also important to learn about possible side effects of your medication, and what you can do to minimise them.

One of the problems with opioids, a commonly used class of post-surgery pain medications, is that they can have some overwhelming side effects. It should be your job to monitor if any occur side effects occur, as you know your body better than anyone.

You may also want to discuss with Dr Sunner and your GP about any regular medication you are taking pre-surgery, and how this might change after your procedure.

The range of medicine you need to manage your post-surgery pain may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioid analgesics or local anaesthetics. You also need to be aware that if you have undergone a joint replacement you are at greater risk for developing a blood clot in a deep vein.

It is your responsibility as a patient to inform your GP about your post-surgery pain to ensure that your doctor can prescribe the right treatment for you and to avoid side effects.

painPain Management

Non-medical treatments also work in treating pain in the short run. These include after surgery treatment, such as:

• Hypnosis
• Acupuncture/ Massage
• Walking
• Rest & Relaxation
• Cold therapy
• Change in climate

Dr Pavitar Sunner

Dr Sunner will discuss your post-operation rehabilitation with you. You also may want to visit your physiotherapist a couple of times a week and repeat your physio exercises in your own time.

If you have questions, concerns, or side effects from the medicine, consult the doctor who prescribed the medicine, or call your primary care provider.

Dr Sunner can be contacted on (02) 4731 8466

orthepedic
Posted on / by western orthopaedics / in Information, Pain

Is It A Sprain Or A Strain?

As we go about our busy days an occasional strain or sprain isn’t uncommon. It is however common to confuse our symptoms of a pulled muscle or a tight pain, between a sprain or a strain. To treat the ailment correctly, it’s firstly important to identify your injury.

Here’s how to spot the difference:

Sprains

Strains
Bruising Muscle spasm
Pain around the affected joint Pain around the affected joint
Swelling Swelling
Limited flexibility Limited flexibility
Difficulty using the joint’s full range of motion Difficulty using the joint’s full range of motion

The main difference between the two is that with a sprain you may have bruising around the affected joint, whereas with a strain, you may feel like you are having muscle cramps.

You may not be aware that sprains are actually classified by grades:

  • Grade 1: Slight stretching and some damage to the fibres (fibrils) of the ligament.
  • Grade 2: Small tearing of the ligament. There is abnormal looseness (laxity) in the joint when it is moved in certain ways.
  • Grade 3: A tear of the ligament. This causes significant instability and makes the joint nonfunctional.

Similar to sprains, strains are also categorised according to the severity:

  • 1st Degree (mild) – Very few fibres are torn
  • 2nd Degree (moderate) – A large number of fibres are torn
  • 3rd Degree (severe) – A complete rupture of the muscle or tendon

sprain

Treatment

Mild strains and mild sprains are treated similarly. All can be treated without surgery.

  • Do not apply pressure to the area. Rest and give it time to heal.
  • Apply ice to reduce swelling and inflammation to the area.

Never apply ice directly to your skin. Instead, wrap a thin towel or piece of clothing around a bag of ice. Leave it on the affected area for 20 minutes, then remove the ice for 20 minutes. Repeat as much as you can for the first 24 to 48 hours.

  • Bandage the injury. This will help reduce swelling around the joint.
  • Try to elevate the affected joint area to reduce swelling. If you can’t keep your ligaments as high as your heart, parallel to the ground is also OK.

If you think your strain or sprain may be something more serious please call your local GP or healthcare professional. If you’d like more information on our orthopedic services, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr Sunner.

If you have any further questions about the information in this article, please ask your GP. If you are experiencing excruciating pain, please call 000.

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