Every day you work to provide relief for your patients’ pain while managing risks. Balancing the risks and benefits of all pain treatment options can be challenging, especially when managing pain after surgery.

Help patients managing pain with a multimodal plan

In a 2018 Mayo Clinic survey, 94% of adults surveyed said they would choose an alternative to opioids for treatment after surgery, but only 25% have talked to their healthcare professional about such alternatives.^1*

Support your patients with a personalized, multimodal pain management plan that can include multiple medications and techniques, including opioid, non-opioid (prescription or OTCs), and topical medications, as well as nonpharmacologic therapies.

Involve your patients to make their pain plan

An individualized, patient- and family-centered plan that’s unique to each patient is recommended.² Help patients become active participants in their pain plans by discussing their personal recovery goals and treatment concerns.

• Ask your patients about their pain management preferences. Many patients want to learn more about all of their pain treatment options but are not discussing them with their healthcare professional.¹

• Communicate clearly and concisely. Patients may feel overwhelmed or forget to ask important questions about how to manage pain.

• Give them this simple, easy-to-use planner before surgery. They can even fill it out at home or in your waiting room before a pre-surgery appointment.

• Personalize their plan. Each patient has different recovery goals and interest in different therapies for pain after surgery. Consider personal health conditions and gauge interest in alternative pain treatment options.

Alternative pain management therapies, including physical modalities, may also be used. Patients may benefit from pain management techniques such as^3,4:

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

• Cold and heat therapy

• Acupuncture

• Massage

Consider and discuss the efficacy and safe use of OTCs with patients

When you recommend an OTC analgesic as part of a patient’s pain management plan, remind them to:

• Follow your recommendation exactly. Patients may stop their analgesic treatment regimen if they feel their pain is under control. Encourage them to follow your dosing directions to stay ahead of their pain.

• Define personal goals. Explain that eliminating pain completely may not be achievable and work together to create realistic, meaningful goals that can help patients get back to normal functioning.

• Keep you informed on their progress. Revisit your patients’ pain and function levels, and adjust their post-surgery pain management regimen accordingly.

• Use OTC pain medicine safely. Provide handouts with OTC analgesic dosage and frequency. Help your patients make an appropriate choice by asking about other medications they may be taking, and remind them to take ONLY 1 medicine that contains the same kind of active ingredient at a time.

• Reinforce OTC analgesic efficacy. Numerous studies support the efficacy of OTC analgesics for a variety of pain states.^5-10 A 2019 US Department of Health and Human Services report recommends multimodal regimens that include non-opioid medications, such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs, for perioperative pain.¹¹