Managing pain after surgery can lead to unexpected complications if not handled properly.
Annually, more than 70 million postsurgical patients receive opioids and, research shows, one in 15 will go on to long-term use of these medications – putting them at risk for abuse or addiction. These statistics indicate that the use of opioids in hospitals has become an unintentional gateway to the opioid crisis sweeping the nation.
While prescription opioids can be an important part of treatment, patients and caregivers should also be aware of alternatives that are available to effectively manage pain after surgery. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Sigman offers his patients a combination of non-opioid medications before, during, and after surgery, to effectively manage their pain without the use of high amounts of opioids. One of those patients was Jacob – a young man with a history of substance abuse, who requested alternatives for managing his postsurgical pain due to fear of being prescribed opioids.
Dr. Sigman joined me to talk more about managing pain after surgery. He revealed why it’s important to discuss non-opioid options before surgery. He also gave more insight to his unique approach, which has been embraced by many surgeons throughout the country, to help reduce, or in some cases eliminate, the need for opioids following surgery.
Managing Pain After Surgery
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Meet Our Guest:
Dr. Scott A. Sigman is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon providing comprehensive care to patients, specializing in Sports Medicine. He is currently the Team Physician for the U.S. Ski Jump Team and all men’s and women’s sports at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Dr. Sigman is also the former Chief of Orthopedics at Lowell General Hospital.
Managing Pain After Surgery
