42 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • FEBRUARY 1, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Consider alternatives
to opioids to manage
pain after surgery
If you’re having surgery, you can expect
to be sore and uncomfortable for a few
days, whether you’re recovering at home
or in the hospital. But it’s best to limit
opioids or avoid them altogether, opting
for alternatives to manage pain and
discomfort, recommends the American
Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
Unfortunately, many patients leave the
hospital following surgery with a prescription
for 30 or more highly addictive
opioid pills (e.g., Vicodin, hydrocodone
and oxycodone), and about 6 percent are
still using them three months or longer
aft er the procedure.
“Nobody needs a prescription for 30
or 50 opioids, and even those who are in
major pain should only take them for a
day or two,” said ASA President James D.
Grant, M.D., M.B.A., FASA. “Th ere are
eff ective alternatives. Many people don’t
need opioids at all or at least should drastically
reduce the amount they take.”
Addiction can start after taking
only a few opioids. More than 2 million
Americans abuse these medications,
which can create a feeling of euphoria and
make the body believe the drug is necessary
for survival. Since 2000, opioid overdose
deaths in the U.S. have increased
200 percent.
Don’t take that chance. During
Physician Anesthesiologists Week (Jan.
28 to Feb. 3), ASA off ers advice for coping
with pain and discomfort as you recover
from surgery.
• Ask about alternatives - Only take
opioids when you are in extreme
pain. Medications such as ibuprofen
(Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) and acetaminophen
(Tylenol) can help with
pain and soreness. While it’s never a
good idea to rely on any type of pain
pills for too long, these medications are
not addictive and are far less risky than
opioids.
• Manage your expectations - Everyone
feels pain diff erently, but soreness and
discomfort aft er surgery are normal and
will improve within a day or two. Th ese
sensations are less severe than pain,
which is usually sharp or intense. You
usually don’t treat muscle soreness aft er
a hard workout with an opioid, so if you
are sore, and not in severe pain, try ibuprofen
or naproxen.
• Be an active participant in your own care
- While you are in recovery, the nurse
will ask you if you are in pain and if so,
how much. Be descriptive in explaining
how you feel. If you are in major pain,
ask that the opioid prescription be written
for a small amount, and only take
them for a day or two, three at most.
Unused pills can fall into the wrong
hands. In fact, more than half of people
who misuse prescription painkillers get
them from a friend or relative. Your pain
will improve signifi cantly within a few
days whether or not you take opioids.
• Be aware of other downsides to opioids
- Opioids cause severe constipation and
oft en don’t manage pain as well as people
expect. Additionally, they can cause
hyperalgesia, or an increased sensitivity
to pain.
“Th e opioid crisis is huge and aff ects
everyone, rich and poor, male and female.
It’s got to stop, and reducing opioid use
during recovery aft er surgery is a big part
of the solution,” said Dr. Grant. “Th ose
who are in continued severe pain aft er
surgery should ask a physician anesthesiologist
or other pain specialist about alternative
strategies to manage pain, including
exercise, nerve blocks and non-opioid
medications.”
ASA is committed to ending opioid
abuse and has launched several initiatives
to combat the epidemic. For more
information, review ASA’s National Pain
Strategy.
To learn more about the critical role
physician anesthesiologists play before,
during and aft er surgery, visit asahq.org/
WhenSecondsCount.
Courtesy BPT