Postoperative pain

Postoperative pain is discomfort that occurs after a surgical or dental procedure. It ranges from pain at the incision to pain referred from deeper tissues or caused by complications.

Nociception: The neural process of detecting and encoding potentially harmful stimuli. Surgical injury activates nociceptors, which transmit signals that the nervous system interprets as pain.
Multimodal analgesia: Pain treatment that combines methods acting through different mechanisms. Combining treatments can improve relief while limiting reliance on any single drug.
Postoperative recovery: The process of regaining function and health after an operation. Adequate pain relief can make breathing, movement, and rehabilitation easier during recovery.
Acute pain: Pain of recent onset that usually has a time-limited course and an identifiable cause. Postoperative pain is a common form of acute pain linked to a known tissue injury.
Inflammatory pain: Pain caused or amplified by inflammatory mediators sensitizing nerve endings. Inflammation around a wound makes nearby nociceptors more responsive.
Opioid analgesic: A drug that reduces pain by activating opioid receptors. Opioids can treat severe acute postoperative pain but require attention to adverse effects and dependence risk.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting: Nausea or vomiting occurring after anesthesia or surgery. Some analgesics, particularly opioids, can contribute to these symptoms and complicate recovery.
Chronic pain: Pain that persists or recurs beyond the usual period of tissue healing. Unlike expected short-term postoperative pain, chronic pain can continue after healing.
Peripheral sensitization: Increased responsiveness of sensory neurons near an injured or inflamed area. It helps explain why a surgical wound can hurt more when touched or moved.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug: A medication that reduces pain and inflammation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes. These drugs can address inflammatory pain and reduce opioid requirements after suitable procedures.

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