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Managing Post-Op Pain at Home: Non-Medicine Relief
Medicines are not the only way to ease pain after surgery. Try these methods instead of pain medicine or to lower the amount of pain medicine you need.
![Woman relaxing in chair with eyes closed.](477378.img)
Visualization or guided imagery
Visualization helps take your mind off the pain:
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Close your eyes. Breathe deeply.
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Picture yourself in a quiet, peaceful place.
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Imagine how you feel in that place.
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If other thoughts come into your mind, take a deep breath and try again.
Progressive body relaxation
Relaxation helps ease stress and pain:
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Close your eyes. Clench your foot muscles.
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Hold for a few seconds. Release.
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Repeat with the muscles in your calves.
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Work slowly up your body. Tense and relax different muscle groups from your belly, chest, arms, neck, and face.
Deep breathing
Deep breathing relaxes your whole body:
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Inhale through your nose slowly and deeply.
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Hold your breath for a few seconds.
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Exhale through your mouth slowly and deeply.
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Repeat 3 more times.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Jonas DeMuro MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Raymond Turley Jr PA-C
Online Medical Reviewer:
Tara Novick BSN MSN
Date Last Reviewed:
7/1/2022
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