Taking Pain Out of Surgery: Your “Pain Medication Trial”
What is the biggest problem with Surgery? It hurts. Non Narcotic pain medicines like Tylenol
and NSAIDS generally aren’t enough. Most patients need Narcotic pain medicines.
What are the biggest problems with Narcotic pain medicines? Knowing what works without
bad side effects.
When is the best time to find out what Narcotic pain medicine works well for you?
Before Surgery!
How will I know what Narcotic pain medicines are right for me? Tell us what has worked well
or not worked well in the past. We will do a “Pain Medication Trial” to find a “Just Right” pain control
program for you before surgery, so after surgery Dr Van Horne will know what works for you!
What is a “Pain Medication Trial”? You will try one or more 2 (two) day courses of narcotic pain
medication with an anti-nausea/anti-itch medication. Then you call us and tell if it was “Just Right”!
What does “Just Right” mean? Our best guess of “Just Right” is a trial that gets rid of at least
60% of your present pain (with activity) while not making you nauseous, itchy, too sleepy or much
goofier than usual. “Just Right” will control enough of your pain the day of surgery so you are
comfortable getting out of bed into a chair and walking to the bathroom!
How are the “Medication Trial” results used? We use them to start an “around the clock” pain
control program after surgery. If your program is working well, you should only have to ask for 2-3
extra doses of pain medicine a day.
Is this what I will go home on after surgery? Generally it makes for a great start, but we
sometimes have to fine tune the doses after surgery to better control your pain. We won’t give you
the final prescriptions for your home pain medication program until the day you are discharged
from the hospital.
What if the first “Medication Trial” doesn’t work for me? Not uncommonly we may need to do
several trials before we find the right combination of medications and dosage for you.
Who do I call with the result? After each medication trial you need to call Dr Van Horne’s medical
assistants, Lisa or Jeanette at EXT 113, and tell them how the trial worked.
Take the medications as directed during the Medication Trial, and follow these guidelines:
• Do not drive. Have someone drive you while you are trialing the medications.
• In case you have significant side effects it is best to have a responsible person be with you
during the medication trial.
• Stop the medications if they cause sedation, nausea, vomiting or itching and call us!
• ALWAYS take with food to help prevent nausea and vomiting! The number one reason to
have nausea and vomiting with pain medication is an empty stomach.
• Drinking alcohol or taking street narcotics during your narcotic trial could be fatal.
These medications are for trial purpose only, not to be used as a pain control program
before surgery. Please do not call for a refill prior to surgery.
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Medication Trials: See how this works for you! Things to evaluate 1) Did it relieve 60% of
your pain with activity. 2) Were you nauseous or itchy even with the Zofran? 3) Did it make
you very sleepy (a little drowsy is expected)? 4) Were you happy with it! When done with the
complete trial Call Lisa or Jeanette at 541-472-0603 Ext 113 with the results!
Narcotic Pain Medications:
□ Tramadol 50mg take ½ 1 pill @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
If 60% of your pain with activity is not relieved and you are not having bad side effects, try:
Tramadol 50 mg take 1 2 pill(s) @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
□ Tramadol 50mg take 1 pill @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
Oxycodone IR 5 mg take ½ 1 pill @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
If 60% of your pain with activity is not relieved and you are not having bad side effects, try:
Tramadol 50mg take 1 pill @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
Oxycodone IR 5 mg take 1 2 pill(s) @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
□ Oxycodone IR 5 mg take ½ 1 pill @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
If 60% of your pain with activity is not relieved and you are not having bad side effects, try:
Oxycodone IR 5 mg take 1 2 pill(s) @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime
□ Oxycodone IR 5 mg take ____ pill(s) @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
If 60% of your pain with activity is not relieved and you are not having bad side effects, try:
Oxycodone IR 5 mg take ____ pill(s) @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 day
□ Morphine Sulfate IR 15 mg take ½ 1 pill @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
If 60% of your pain with activity is not relieved and you are not having bad side effects, try:
Morphine Sulfate IR 15 mg take 1 2 pill(s) @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
□ Morphine Sulfate IR 15 mg take ___ pill(s) @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
If 60% of your pain with activity is not relieved and you are not having bad side effects, try:
Morphine Sulfate IR 15 mg take ___ pill(s) @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
□ Dilaudid 2 mg take ½ 1 pill @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
If 60% of your pain with activity is not relieved and you are not having bad side effects, try:
Dilaudid 2 mg take 1 2 pill @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
□ Codeine 30 mg take ½ 1 pill @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
If 60% of your pain with activity is not relieved and you are not having bad side effects, try:
Codeine 30 mg take 1 2 pill @ breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime for 2 days
ANTI-ITCH/ANTI-NAUSEA Medications: (also makes pain medication work better)
□ Zofran 4 mg take 1 pill @ breakfast, afternoon and bedtime
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