Recovering Our Health
Before Surgery, Understand Your Surgeon’s Pain Management Philosophy
Have them explain in plain English, so you don’t suffer needlessly
When I had my first back operation in 2018, my surgeon taught me several things which have served me well over the years. I was fortunate to have a DO that cared about my entire experience of getting my back treated and back on my feet.
One thing we decided before going to surgery was pain management. We agreed that while I did not want to be in pain, neither did I want to take powerful narcotics for an extended period. Since my surgery involved extensive work with multiple disks in my back, we knew it would take months to recover fully.
My doctor’s philosophy was to take my wants into account to work with a pain management doctor to detail a plan that would keep me pain-free and unaddicted. I found out later this was a complex and comprehensive approach, but I did not know that.
When I went for my second back operation in 2022, I neglected to understand my new surgeon’s approach fully. I moved from Texas to Florida and had a new surgeon. I would rate the surgeon and his office staff as 11/10, except for pain management. My doctor was understanding and empathic. He explained what we…
