Using Complementary Therapies in the Management of Postoperative Pain

Postoperative pain management is vital for a variety of reasons, extending past the physiological implications of pain, but also having an impact on financial, emotional, and psychological well-being. Managing patient pain is one of the biggest challenges and concerns in the perioperative setting. Reports show that anxiety and fear surrounding the anticipation of pain cause some patients to postpone necessary surgeries (Li, et al., 2019). Even after surgery, the undertreatment of acute pain results in 10% of patients developing chronic postoperative pain (Glare, et al. 2019). The implications of undertreated postoperative pain are associated with delayed recovery, prevention of return to normal function, anxiety, depression, decreased functionality, and an increased risk of opioid misuse (Glare, et al., 2019). Research has shown that the use of opioids and analgesic medications as the only method of postoperative pain management falls short of effectively managing all pain symptoms, leaving lasting pain and the potential adverse effects of opioid use ranging from respiratory sedation to addiction (Lee, 2018). Evidence shows that using complementary therapies such as music therapy, distraction, aromatherapy, and music therapy with education started preoperatively and opioid analgesics optimize pain management in postoperative patients. The focus on and implementation of multimodal approaches to management including complementary therapies, education, and opioids has proven to improve patient outcomes (Lee, 2018). Currently, research indicates that the use of complementary therapies, along with standard of practice, in managing postoperative pain has the potential to decrease patient pain perception, opioid consumption, and length of hospital stay, all while improving overall patient outcomes.