Pain Control

For many patients, pain or discomfort is controlled with a combination of ice and over the counter medication such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Your surgical team may use local anesthetics (pain blocking medication) at the surgery site. This will block discomfort for hours to days. Ibuprofen provides as much pain relief as the opioid oxycodone, so your doctor may prescribe no opioids or just enough for a few days if pain is severe. By day 4, most people report no severe pain after an operation (see Safe and Effective Pain Control After Surgery). Pain from the surgical incision is usually gone in 7 to 10 days.

You may have a pins and needles sensation or numbness at the breast or down the arms or axilla. This can be from nerve endings that were cut during the surgery on the chest wall. Persistent pain can be a common side effect after breast cancer treatment.³⁷

Keeping You Informed

In a nationwide study, 15 months after breast surgery and treatment, 32.7 percent of women had pain almost every day. Many of these women were of a younger age, had more involved surgery, and received hormone therapy.³⁸

At 7 to 9 years after surgery, 20.4 percent continued to report persistent pain. Reach out to your surgeon if your pain is lasting more than several weeks. They will recommend a pain control plan and complementary therapies to manage your pain.

A combination of therapies and medications will be used together for better pain control after your surgery. The goal is to:

Minimize your pain
Keep you moving
Help you heal
Decrease the need for opioid (narcotic) pain medication

Below is a guide that can help you with pain control options after surgery.

Expand to see in full view.

Pain Level

How Intense Is My Pain

What Can I Take to Feel Better

Most Common Therapies

Mild pain

I hardly notice my pain, and it does not interfere with my activities.

I notice my pain and it distracts me, but I can still do activities (sitting up, walking, standing).

Non-Medication Therapies

Non-Opioid, Oral Medications

Take as needed when you feel pain
These help to decrease pain and swelling (inflammation)

Non-Medication Therapies

Ice, elevation, rest, meditation, massage, distraction (music, TV, play), walking, and mild exercise
Splinting the abdomen with pillows

Non-Opioid Medication

Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), Naproxen (Aleve®)

Moderate pain

My pain is hard to ignore and is more noticeable even when I rest.

My pain interferes with my usual activities.

Non-Medication Therapy

Non-Opioid, Oral Medication

Take these on a regular schedule

Non-Medication Therapy Plus Non-Opioid Medication

On a regular schedule instead of as needed (Tylenol® every 6 hours at 9 am, 3 pm, 9 pm, 3 am and Motrin® every 6 hours at 12 am, 6 am, 12 pm, 6 pm)

Severe pain

I am focused on my pain, and I am not doing my daily activities.

I am groaning in pain, and I cannot sleep. I am unable to do anything.

My pain is as bad as it could be, and nothing else matters.

Non-Medication Therapy

Non-Opioid, Oral Medication

Take these on a regular schedule

Short-Acting Opioids

Take for a few days and decrease/stop as soon as possible

Opioids block pain and give a feeling of euphoria (feel high). Addiction, a serious side effect of opioids, is rare with short-term use.

Examples of short-acting opioids include: Tramadol (Ultram®), Hydrocodone (Norco®, Vicodin®), Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)

Pain Level	How Intense Is My Pain	What Can I Take to Feel Better	Most Common Therapies
Mild pain	I hardly notice my pain, and it does not interfere with my activities. I notice my pain and it distracts me, but I can still do activities (sitting up, walking, standing).	Non-Medication Therapies + Non-Opioid, Oral Medications Take as needed when you feel pain These help to decrease pain and swelling (inflammation)	Non-Medication Therapies Ice, elevation, rest, meditation, massage, distraction (music, TV, play), walking, and mild exercise Splinting the abdomen with pillows Non-Opioid Medication Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), Naproxen (Aleve®)
Moderate pain	My pain is hard to ignore and is more noticeable even when I rest. My pain interferes with my usual activities.	Non-Medication Therapy + Non-Opioid, Oral Medication Take these on a regular schedule	Non-Medication Therapy Plus Non-Opioid Medication On a regular schedule instead of as needed (Tylenol® every 6 hours at 9 am, 3 pm, 9 pm, 3 am and Motrin® every 6 hours at 12 am, 6 am, 12 pm, 6 pm)
Severe pain	I am focused on my pain, and I am not doing my daily activities. I am groaning in pain, and I cannot sleep. I am unable to do anything. My pain is as bad as it could be, and nothing else matters.	Non-Medication Therapy Non-Opioid, Oral Medication Take these on a regular schedule Short-Acting Opioids Take for a few days and decrease/stop as soon as possible	Opioids block pain and give a feeling of euphoria (feel high). Addiction, a serious side effect of opioids, is rare with short-term use. Examples of short-acting opioids include: Tramadol (Ultram®), Hydrocodone (Norco®, Vicodin®), Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)