Good pain control is an extremely important part of your recovery after Chest Wall Surgery. There is a Pain Management Service in the Hospital who will be involved in ensuring you have good pain control after your surgery.

Within The Pain team in RHC there are 3 pain nurse specialists, consultant anaesthetists and on call anaesthetic staff.

Before your operation, an anaesthetist will discuss what pain relief will be used while you are in theatre and what your post operative pain management will be.

After your surgery you will be seen by either Kay, Margaret or Kareen who will oversee your pain control to ensure it is adequate to allow you to carry out your post op physiotherapy exercises and other daily activities.

The nursing staff on the ward will also carry out regular pain assessment and scoring to ensure you have good pain control. If you find that your pain is not well controlled, adjustments can be made to your pain medication. These adjustments will be made during the day by the pain nurse specialists and by the on call anaesthetic staff overnight.

Following your surgery you will work through the Recovery Pathway which explains the expectations and goals you should aim to achieve each day after your operation. It is very important that you are comfortable enough to achieve these goals.

Prior to discharge the pain team will discuss your pain management plan which should be followed while you are at home.

On discharge you will be given a short supply of the pain medication but will have to go to your GP for more. You must not suddenly stop any of this medication – the pain team will be in contact with you on a weekly basis for around 3-6 weeks after you go home and discuss when it is appropriate to start reducing your pain medicine.

The Pain Service will provide a contact number for any support or advice you require. A member of the Pain Service will also see you when you attend for your routine out patient appointment after surgery.

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