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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Treatment for post op surgical chronic pain

    Related Topics
    Back & Neck Pain Oesophageal Cancer Pain
    I had esophagectomy in August 2016. My pain was treated at Alfred Hospital after surgery for one month. Complications arose from surgery. I was treated for pain in October 2016 at the Avenue Hospital and was discharged when the pain had disappeared to a degree, however, now the pain has returned quite badly. I'm not returning to the same doctor I saw at Avenue Hospital. Am still taking many pain meds including Oxynorm/ MS Contin
    • 1 answer
    • Bree Somer
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    Thanks

    Bree Somer

    Social Worker

    Hi - I’m Bree Somer. I'm an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with extensive training and life experience. I provide individual counselling or coaching sessions … View Profile

    Sorry to hear of your previous surgery complications and returning pain. This sounds like it has been a frustrating and painful experience for you.

    Regarding chronic pain treatment options, I make the following suggestions:

    1. if you are not keen to return to the doctor at the Avenue Hospital, consider seeing your previous treating doctor from the Alfred Hospital to request a new referral to another pain management specialist / clinic;
    2. at the very least, definitely reconnect with a doctor in relation to your condition - whether it is your usual GP or previous treating specialist from the Alfred Hospital - and request a review of the current post-op management plan including medication;
    3. explore some alternative pain management treatments and supports to help you pull together a more comprehensive "tool box" of strategies to help you manage the pain.

    Pain Australia has some great resources to help chronic pain sufferers:  http://www.painaustralia.org.au/healthcare-professionals/patient-resources.html

    I hope this goes some way to being of assistance to you.

    I wish you well with your recovery.

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