Do not cross off their opioids or take away their patient controlled analgesia system on day four after the operation just because you do that for everyone. They are comfortable because of the drugs they are currently taking. Let them keep their access to these analgesics until they feel that they no longer want them. Remember that pain has a big psychological component, and for patients to feel in control they need this comfort blanket. If you need advice you have several sources of help apart from your own team.
Most hospitals now have a multidisciplinary acute pain team.
This is there to provide help with pain control problems and to train and support the staff who prescribe and administer the analgesia in its many forms. Your ward pharmacist will be able to provide you with drug information. Pick the brains of the anaesthetists about practical management and the use of regional techniques, such as nerve blocks or epidurals. Justins D. Treating acute pain in hospital. Psychology, pain and anaesthesia.