Managing Post-Op Pain at Home: Non-Medicine Relief

Medicines are not the only way to manage pain after surgery. Try the following techniques.

Visualization or guided imagery

Visualization helps take your mind off the pain:

• Close your eyes. Breathe deeply.

• Picture yourself in a quiet, peaceful place.

• Imagine how you feel in that place.

• If other thoughts enter your mind, take a deep breath and try again.

Progressive body relaxation

Relaxation helps relieve stress and pain:

• Close your eyes. Clench your foot muscles.

• Hold for a few seconds. Release.

• Repeat with the muscles in your calves.

• Work slowly up your body, tensing and relaxing different muscle groups from your abdomen, chest, arms, neck, and face.

Deep breathing

Deep breathing relaxes your whole body:

• Inhale through your nose slowly and deeply.

• Hold your breath for a couple of seconds.

• Exhale through your mouth slowly and deeply.