How will my pain be managed post-operatively?
Many patients are given narcotic pain medications at the time of discharge to use after surgery for a short period of time.
These medications may cause numerous side effects including nausea, constipation, and confusion. If used for long periods of time, they may become addictive. The medication should be taken 1-2 weeks after surgery at which time it should be discontinued, and Tylenol should be used in place. Driving is not permitted while on narcotics.
Stool softeners (Colace), laxatives (Senokot, Milk of Magnesia), or prune juice can be utilized while taking narcotics to avoid significant constipation.
