Post-Surgical Pain
Post-surgical pain is chronic pain that persists beyond normal healing time after a surgical procedure. Silver Pain Centre offers specialized, OHIP-covered interventional treatments to identify and address the source of your ongoing surgical pain and help restore your quality of life.
What Is Post-Surgical Pain?
Post-surgical pain, also known as chronic post-operative pain, is a condition in which pain persists for three months or longer after a surgical procedure, beyond the expected healing period. It affects an estimated 10 to 50 percent of patients following common surgeries such as joint replacements, spinal procedures, hernia repairs, and thoracic operations. Post-surgical pain can result from nerve damage during the operation, scar tissue formation, ongoing inflammation, or changes in how the nervous system processes pain signals. The pain may feel different from the original condition that led to surgery and can significantly impact quality of life, sleep, and daily functioning if left untreated.
Persistent pain at or near the surgical site that continues beyond the normal healing period
Burning, shooting, or electric shock-like sensations indicating nerve involvement
Increased sensitivity or pain triggered by light touch, clothing, or pressure on the surgical area
Stiffness, tightness, or restricted movement around the surgical site that limits daily activities
What Causes Post-Surgical Pain?
Post-surgical pain develops through several mechanisms related to the surgical procedure and the healing response. Contributing factors include:
- Direct nerve injury: Surgical incisions that inadvertently cut, stretch, or compress peripheral nerves during the procedure
- Scar tissue formation: Post-operative adhesions and fibrosis that trap or irritate nerves in the surgical area
- Chronic inflammation: Persistent inflammatory responses at the surgical site that maintain pain signaling
- Central sensitization: Changes in the nervous system that amplify pain signals and lower pain thresholds after surgery
- Type of surgery: Certain procedures carry higher risks, including thoracotomy, mastectomy, hernia repair, and joint surgery
- Pre-existing pain conditions: Patients with chronic pain before surgery have higher risk of developing persistent post-surgical pain
- Psychological factors: Pre-operative anxiety, depression, or catastrophizing that influence post-surgical pain outcomes
Treatment Options for Post-Surgical Pain
Silver Pain Centre provides specialized, evidence-based treatments for chronic post-surgical pain. Our team uses advanced diagnostic techniques to identify whether the pain originates from nerve damage, scar tissue, inflammation, or central sensitization, and develops a targeted treatment plan accordingly.
Targeted nerve block injections: Precise delivery of local anesthetic to the specific nerves affected by the surgical procedure to confirm the pain source and provide relief
Scar tissue and adhesion management: Specialized injection techniques to release nerve entrapment caused by post-surgical scar formation
Radiofrequency ablation: Advanced heat-based technique to interrupt pain signals from specific nerves contributing to chronic post-surgical discomfort
Pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation: Non-destructive electromagnetic therapy to calm sensitized nerves near the surgical site without causing additional tissue damage
Medication optimization: Strategic adjustment of pain medications including neuropathic agents, anti-inflammatories, and topical treatments tailored to the type of post-surgical pain
Neuromodulation therapy: Spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation for patients with persistent nerve-related post-surgical pain
Rehabilitation coordination: Collaborative care with physiotherapy to restore mobility and function while managing pain around the surgical area
When to Seek Help for Post-Surgical Pain
You should consult a pain specialist if you experience pain that persists for more than three months after your surgery, pain that is different in character from your original condition, burning, shooting, or electric sensations near the surgical site, pain that interferes with your recovery and return to normal activities, or symptoms that have not improved with standard post-operative care. Early assessment of chronic post-surgical pain leads to better outcomes and can prevent the condition from becoming more difficult to treat.
At Silver Pain Centre, we provide comprehensive, OHIP-covered consultations designed to help you find lasting relief. Here’s how we make a difference:
Collaborative Care
Fast Access
Advanced Diagnostics
Our North York facility uses imaging such as MRI, ultrasound, and fluoroscopy to pinpoint the exact source of your pain.
Non-Surgical Options
From nerve blocks to radiofrequency ablation, we provide targeted treatments to relieve pain and restore mobility.
Interventional pain procedures performed to date
Years of specialized pain management experience
%
Patient-reported satisfaction based on post-visit surveys
Image-guided injections performed monthly
Explore Our Full Range of Pain Management Solutions
Learn about our pain management treatments and explore the options available at Silver Pain Centre.
Book a Consultation for Post-Surgical Pain
If you are experiencing persistent pain after a surgical procedure, our specialists can help. Silver Pain Centre offers advanced, OHIP-covered treatments to identify and address the specific causes of your post-operative pain.