I am out of pain meds, what should I do for pain?

Question

I am 6 days post op. I am in severe pain. It feels as if I have a muscle spasm stuck in my left breast. I can feel the swollen lump that hurts. Anytime I move my arm it sends a sharp pain into my chest from the spot. The right breast is experiencing tremendous pain where the stitches are underneath. It almost feels like the bra is causing more discomfort than anything else.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Contact your PS as he/she may want to switch you to a non-narcotic pain reliever. Pain is typically minimal, and patients can go back to work in 3 or 4 days following breast reduction surgery.  However, the time required for recovery following a BR varies a good deal among patients. The inflammation and swelling normally take at least 6 weeks to reduce to a point that the breast starts to feel soft and natural. The amount of time you need to recover from BR will depend on your natural healing rate as well as the extent of surgery performed.   After two or three months, you should more or less be able to see your final results noting little discomfort or tenderness. However, subtle changes may continue up to 12 months. 
Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi there and thanks for your question and photos!  I agree that it is unusual to have pain almost 1 week after surgery.  I usually recommend extra strength tylenol for pain.  Patients tend to do better on this than any narcotic.  I suggest calling your plastic surgeon for his/her post op protocol. Best of luck and feel better!

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

it is unusual for severe pain to persist six days after surgery.  As you may know, given the opioid crisis, we are restricted in terms of prescribing medication but you can reach out to your surgeon for evaluation of the basis of the pain.

I am out of pain meds, what should I do for pain?

Answers (3)