Overview
After surgery many types of pain medicines can be used such as opiates or narcotics, local anesthetics, and anti-inflammatory medicines. Depending on the procedure and clinical situation, a single medicine or combination of medicines may be used.
Review Date 6/15/2019
Updated by: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, general surgery practice specializing in breast cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.