"Post operative pain relief"

The Pain team

I am writing to express my utter disappointment in the post operative pain team and the junior Drs they seem to advise and control.

I have returned for my 3rd major abdominal operation in 8 years.

On each and every occasion my pain has been very poorly managed and very inadequately controlled  as a direct result of the the  Pain Team nurses.

The Pain team seem to hold to the the mantra of addiction as being the reason for not allowing adequate and appropriate  pain relief.

I have been told  they can't give me more as it just sits on my receptors, or they can't give me more as there is a real risk of addiction.

In 2017 I came home and just suffered the pain till it finally dissipated about 4 weeks on  - it's also worth noting that post discharge in 2017 I was so sore I could not adequately move or mobile and then was readmitted 5 days latter with a DVT. 

In 2023 - I hoped things had improved but they had got much worse. I waited up to 4 hours for requested pain relief. This was no fault of the nursing staff, I believe it was the fault of a pain management regime that was set to fail. 

However, in 2023 I was more prepared for my positional suffering and was able to self medicate as soon as I go home - I could then mobilize , breathe deeply, cough and walk and made an excellent recovery despite the Pain Team. 

This time I was prepared for the fundamental lack of care and attention of the pain team nurses and some of the junior medical staff.

The worst of this was after taking a day to negotiate an increase from 2mg 2 hourly, I was given 5mg but 4 hrly!

I know that mine is not the only experience but I can only speak for myself.

This time I got home on day 4 post-op and could not wait to get home to self medicate and ensure that my post-op recover will be a pain controlled and as complication free as possible.