The most difficult situations to be in are groups b and c, above – when the nerve pain is not improved immediately after surgery and may take several months to improve.  However, for a small number of patients in this group, the pain doesn’t ever go away – this “waiting to see” can be a difficult period. What can I do during this time to improve my pain while I wait?

• Take the “medication cocktail” prescribed for you
  1. Tylenol, Vitamin C and Gabapentin have been shown to improve nerve pain after resection surgery.
  2. Don’t “push yourself” – let your body heal. Walking short distances several times a day is good to help prevent blood clots.  However, you should take ownership for your recovery with not over-doing it and following the activity restrictions your surgeon prescribed.
  3.  Topical patches such as Salon Pas and Lidocaine are available over-the-counter and can be applied directly to the painful areal
     Let your doctor’s office know if you feel that the pain is higher than it should be – we would rather hear from you and evaluate your situation than have you be in pain alone!