Chronic Post-Surgical Pain

Chronic post-surgical pain is one of the most common complications of surgery. At Joshuason Rehabilitation & Pain Management LTD, John Wrightson, MD, a double board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation and interventional pain management specialist, can help you manage chronic post-surgical pain and restore your quality of life. If you have pain that lasts beyond your expected recovery time.

Targeted relief

for post-surgical pain.

Recovering from surgery should bring healing—not lasting discomfort. At Joshuason Rehabilitation & Pain Management, we understand that some patients experience persistent pain long after surgery. Our team specializes in diagnosing and treating chronic post-surgical pain through evidence-based therapies, advanced pain management techniques, and individualized care plans. We focus on reducing inflammation, restoring mobility, and helping you return to a more active, pain-free life.

FAQs

Chronic Post-Surgical Pain

What is chronic post-surgical pain?

Millions of Americans have surgical procedures every year. In most cases, they recover as expected and get back to their regular activities within the anticipated time frame.

However, up to 30% of surgical patients report pain that lasts for more than a year after their initial surgery. In many cases, chronic post-surgical pain becomes more severe and disruptive as time passes.

Chronic post-surgical pain can interfere with your ability to return to work, engage in social activities, and regain your former quality of life. Additionally, chronic pain can contribute to mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.

What causes chronic post-surgical pain?

Surgeons, pain management experts, and medical researchers don’t fully understand the causes of chronic post-surgical pain.

However, your pain could be due to nerve damage. For example, the inflammation and swelling that follows surgery can compress a nerve and cause pain.

In most cases, when the swelling subsides, the nerve is released and your pain disappears. However, the compression could ultimately damage the nerve, leading to lasting suffering

How is post-surgical pain diagnosed?

Dr. Wrightson provides compassionate and thorough assessments to diagnose the cause of your chronic post-surgical pain. In addition to your physical exam, he uses diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans to gather more information to guide his diagnosis. He also uses electromyography and nerve conduction studies to assess your nerve function and locate the nerve damage causing your pain.

How is chronic post-surgical pain treated?

When Dr. Wrightson understands the issue causing your chronic post-surgical pain and identifies its location, he creates a customized treatment plan to alleviate it. Your pain management program may include:

Spinal cord stimulators
Pain pumps
DRG stimulators
Peripheral nerve blocks
Peripheral neural ablation

Dr. Wrightson may also recommend physiotherapy to build your strength and flexibility in the surrounding muscles and connective tissue to reduce your risk of recurring injuries or pain.

He may also recommend cognitive behavioral therapy or psychotherapy to help you cope with any mental health issues related to your chronic pain.

Your Path to Recovery Starts Here

At Joshuason Rehab, we combine medical expertise with personalized treatment plans to target the root cause of your pain and support long-term recovery.