After surgery, prescription medications help patients recover comfortably and safely. The goal of postoperative pain management is not to eliminate all pain but to reduce it to a level that allows for movement, deep breathing, eating, and sleeping.
Opioids such as oxycodone and morphine work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to reduce the perception of pain. These medications carry risks including drowsiness, constipation, tolerance, and potential for dependence, and are typically reserved for moderate to severe postoperative pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and ketorolac reduce inflammation and are effective for managing mild to moderate pain. They may cause gastrointestinal irritation or affect kidney function when used in high doses or in susceptible patients.
Acetaminophen works by changing the way the body senses pain and is frequently combined with stronger medications to enhance overall effectiveness while reducing opioid requirements.
Specialty medications including anticonvulsants such as gabapentin and pregabalin are used to manage nerve-related pain, while muscle relaxants address post-surgical spasms. A multimodal approach combining several of these agents targets pain through different mechanisms, improving outcomes while reducing the risk and burden of any single medication.