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MANAGE POSTSURGICAL PAIN WITH A PRESURGICAL PLAN.

You have a say in how your pain is managed after surgery.

Everyone experiences pain differently. Have a discussion with your doctor before the procedure to make a pain management plan that meets the needs of you and your family.

Ask your doctor to help create a pain management plan customized for you or your child. The plan will consider the type of surgery, area of the body, tolerance for pain, tolerance for pain medications, overall health, and how pain may affect recovery. Be sure to discuss your preferences and options with your doctor prior to your surgery.

  • Women experience pain differently than men—what could this mean for you and your family?
  • Side effects from some pain medication could keep you or your child off your feet longer than you expect
  • Worried about your family having access to opioids/narcotics? Drug exposure often starts at home
  • Are you or your child an oncology patient? Avoiding opioids/narcotics may benefit recovery

Many people rely on opioids after surgery.
But opioids aren’t for everyone.

  • Opioids can cause nausea, vomiting, and constipation
  • Opioids can make you feel drowsy or confused
  • Over 50 million people have reported using prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons at least once
  • 1 in 15 patients who took an opioid after surgery became a long-term user
    • Some people develop a tolerance and need higher doses over time

TYPES OF OPIOIDS (NARCOTICS)

TYPES OF OPIOIDS (NARCOTICS)
SYSTEMIC

Oxycodone (eg, OxyContin®, Percocet®)

Hydrocodone (eg, Vicodin®, Lortab®)

Hydromorphone (eg, Dilaudid®)

Merperidine (Demerol®)

Morphine (similar to heroin)

Codeine

Fentanyl

Methadone

These attach to nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There they block pain signals from reaching the brain. "Systemic" means they affect the whole body.

People may become dependent or addicted to opioids, even if they are only used for a short time.

TYPES OF NON-OPIOIDS

TYPES OF NON-OPIOIDS
SYSTEMIC

Aspirin

Ibuprofen (eg, Advil®, Motrin®)

Naproxen (eg, Aleve®, Naprosyn®)

Acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol®, Q-Pap®)

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil® and Aleve® reduce swelling, and acetaminophen works differently to manage mild to moderate pain.

These are systemic and affect the whole body, like opioids, but do not contain narcotics and are not addictive.
TARGETED Local anesthetic (eg, lidocaine) EXPAREL, a long-acting local anesthetic Unlike systemic medications, these work directly at the surgical site to numb the nerves that cause pain. They also do not contain narcotics and are not addictive.

All products, names, and brands are the property of their respective owners.

Harvard Health Publications:

7 questions to ask when you’re given a prescription for an opioid

It's important to talk about pain management with your doctor, before your procedure.

Use this helpful tool to put together talking points for your next appointment.

Create your discussion guide now

Concerned about pain after surgery?

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Indication

EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) is indicated to produce postsurgical local analgesia via infiltration in patients aged 6 years and older and regional analgesia in adults via an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block, sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa, and an adductor canal block. Safety and efficacy have not been established in other nerve blocks.

Important Safety Information

EXPAREL should not be used in obstetrical paracervical block anesthesia.

In studies in adults where EXPAREL was injected into a wound, the most common side effects were nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

In studies in adults where EXPAREL was injected near a nerve, the most common side effects were nausea, fever, headache, and constipation.

In the study where EXPAREL was given to children, the most common side effects were nausea, vomiting, constipation, low blood pressure, low number of red blood cells, muscle twitching, blurred vision, itching, and rapid heartbeat.

EXPAREL can cause a temporary loss of feeling and/or loss of muscle movement. How much and how long the loss of feeling and/or muscle movement depends on where and how much of EXPAREL was injected and may last for up to 5 days.

EXPAREL is not recommended to be used in patients younger than 6 years old for injection into the wound, for patients younger than 18 years old for injection near a nerve, and/or in pregnant women.

Tell your health care provider if you or your child has liver disease, since this may affect how the active ingredient (bupivacaine) in EXPAREL is eliminated from the body.

EXPAREL should not be injected into the spine, joints, or veins.

The active ingredient in EXPAREL can affect the nervous system and the cardiovascular system; may cause an allergic reaction; may cause damage if injected into the joints; and can cause a rare blood disorder.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

See More

EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) is indicated to produce postsurgical local analgesia via infiltration in patients aged 6 years and older and regional analgesia in adults via an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block, sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa, and an adductor canal block. Safety and efficacy have not been established in other nerve blocks.

Important Safety Information