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In this video, let's talk about when pain is normal, what normal pain should feel like
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and when we need to be more concerned. Now this isn't going to be a comprehensive list
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This is just a general framework for you to help understand when pain is normal, what
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normal pain should feel like, and when you absolutely need to reach out to your surgical
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team, ask your physical therapist, or potentially go to the ER. So pain is normal after surgery
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I think most of us could agree. We would expect a typical level of pain
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What I see in the clinic for my patients who have had a recent surgery is the first 24 to 48 hours
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The pain is significant, but it's tolerable. It's manageable. They find that upon discharge, they can go home
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They can manage their pain. They're aware of it, but it's not debilitating
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Typically after 48 hours going on to 72 hours, the pain gets more intense
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There's a normal rise, possibly because you're doing more, possibly because the initial pain
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medication isn't working as effectively as it used to. But then by the fourth day, fifth day, certainly by the sixth day, the pain is continuing to
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improve, decline, get more tolerable. You're increasing your activity level. Your appetite is better
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you're going to the bathroom normally you're not dealing with constipation or diarrhea there's a steady progression that we look for after
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surgery now when is there a red flag when is there something you need to be
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more concerned about if the pain is just constantly increasing incrementally day one two three pain is worse worse worse you absolutely have to follow up with your physician if you find that pain is becoming distracting it making you irritable Pain is potentially increasing your blood pressure
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You're breathing heavier. Or maybe you're not breathing normally. You find that your breathing is labored
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Absolutely you have to go to talk to your surgical team. If pain is making sleep impossible, you need to consult somebody
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And if you find that the redness, swelling, the temperature, the warmth of the leg is increasing
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definitely get to a specialist or go to the ER for an assessment
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The biggest concern is infection and blood clot immediately after surgery. So guys, I want you to understand, yes, pain is normal after a procedure like a total
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knee replacement. But even within that, there should be some consistency and improvement to the pain
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If you find that it's just increasing incrementally day after day after day, if you find that pain is worse with activity and worse with rest, if you find that pain has become unrelenting, you need to go see somebody because that is not normal
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What is normal is pain is there. You're aware of it. Maybe it rises and falls based on activity and other things that you're doing, but it's always
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should be manageable. Guys, if you have more questions about your post-surgical pain
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absolutely let me know in the comments below. I am not an expert
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Your surgical team, your nursing staff, your physical therapist, they are the ones
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that can answer your questions specifically for you. But I hope that I could give you
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some guidelines so you know what to expect, what's normal, and what really should
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you know, raise a question for you to say, hey, I've got to talk to somebody about this
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Guys, as always, Thanks for supporting the channel. I'll catch you on the next video
