By Sara Van Velze, Clinical Manager at Tokai Physiotherapy
Recovering from major surgery at home can be challenging. Even after a successful operation, many people continue to experience pain. Whilst pain is expected following surgery, you should not have to suffer through it. Effective post-operative pain management is essential to recovery.
Good pain management in the early weeks after surgery can make a huge difference in your long-term recovery. At Faircape Health, our sub-acute facilities provide a supportive environment designed to help patients manage pain safely and effectively by:
Pain in the First Days Predicts Later Pain
According to published clinical studies, the intensity of acute pain immediately after surgery is one of the strongest predictors of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). In other words, if pain isn’t adequately controlled early on, there’s a higher chance it may linger for months, or even become a long-term problem.
People who experience severe pain after surgery, especially in procedures like total knee arthroplasty (TKA), are at particular risk. In fact, studies suggest that up to 12–15%* of TKR patients still experience moderate to severe pain months after surgery, which can be distressing and also affect mobility, independence, and even emotional well-being.
Home Recovery Alone May Not Be Enough
At home, you might not have access to the interdisciplinary care needed to address all aspects of post-surgical pain. Pain is complex and influenced not only by the surgery itself but also by pre-existing pain, sleep quality, mood, and individual responses to pain.
Managing pain effectively often requires a holistic approach, combining:
- Scheduled medications like paracetamol or anti-inflammatories
- Short-term, carefully monitored stronger pain relief when needed
- Ice, elevation, and physical therapy exercises
- Sleep, education, and stress management strategies
- Targeted interventions for nerve-related or neuropathic pain
A single approach, such as just taking pain tablets when needed, is usually not enough to prevent persistent pain.
How Faircape Helps
At Faircape, we provide:
- Individualised treatment plans: Our team assesses your pain from multiple angles and adjusts your plan as needed.
- Early intervention: We monitor your pain closely in the first days and weeks, identifying any slow responders that are not improving as expected.
- Interdisciplinary support: Pain management is a team effort, and our doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists work together to support your recovery.
- Education and guidance: We show you strategies to manage pain, move safely, and prevent long-term problems.
What You Can Do at Home (and with Our Guidance)
Even in a supportive facility, your daily participation matters. Remember,
- Take medications exactly as prescribed, on schedule.
- Use ice, elevate your limb if instructed, and do short, frequent walks.
- Follow your physiotherapy programme and gradually increase activity.
- Prioritise sleep and manage stress to reduce ongoing pain.
When to Contact Your Team
Some warning signs like fever, wound redness or drainage, swelling in your leg, chest pain, or sudden worsening of pain need urgent attention. At Faircape, we encourage you to reach out early so we can adjust your pain plan or investigate causes before problems become chronic.
Contact us today: https://faircapehealth.co.za/contact-us/
*Wylde, V., Beswick, A., Bruce, J., Blom, A., Howells, N. and Gooberman-Hill, R. (n.d.) ‘Chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty’.
