You’re having surgery soon and have lots of questions about how over-the-counter pain medications can help you manage your post-op pain, and how best to take them. I’m Shawn Gubala, and I’ve had experience navigating this kind of scenario with two major orthopedic surgeries in the last three years. Here are some tips for getting the most out of a visit with your doctor to learn more about it.

Grab a Tip from Shawn: Watch & Learn (4 Video Clips)

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OTC And Prescription Mix

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When To Resume OTCs and Supplements

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OTC May Not Be Enough

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Is Your Pain Medicine Working?

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Get Ready for Your Appointment

Whether you don’t know much about over-the-counter pain medications or are very familiar with them from everyday aches and pains, taking them for postsurgery pain control can create all kinds of questions.

“A lot of people may think, 'Hey, why are you giving me ibuprofen and Tylenol? I just had surgery!' And it’s because they do a really good job at controlling pain.”

The goal is to set yourself up for postsurgery success by fully understanding how to use OTC pain relief as you heal. Here are some ways to prepare for your doctor’s appointment.

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Make the Most of Your Appointment

Your doctor will have questions for you, and you’ll want to come prepared with your own set, too. Here are some examples of questions you can ask in your visit.

What to Ask Your Doctor:

What are the different options I can use for over-the-counter pain relief?

Your doctor may have printed material you can take home with options you can go ahead and buy ahead of your surgery.

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How soon will I feel better after taking OTC pain medication?

Most medications should start reducing the pain within an hour or two, but some work faster. Your doctor can help you know better what to expect.

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How often can I take medication for pain?

After my arthroscopic labrum repair in my shoulder, 800 milligrams of ibuprofen twice a day for two weeks took care of my post-operative pain. After my ankle surgery, I needed prescription painkillers, but after I came off those, I alternated between ibuprofen and acetaminophen, which allowed me to take pain relief more often and stay on top of the pain.

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What should I do if my meds aren’t managing my pain well?

Find out how to get in touch with your doctor if you’re in a lot of discomfort. They want to help you heal as comfortably as possible and can talk you through adjusting your dosages or move to stronger prescription options if you need them.

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What should I be doing alongside taking medication to help my pain?

Should you be elevating any part of your body? Icing? How long and how often? Make sure you know all the tools you can use to feel good.

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“Most people have probably been exposed to OTC pain medications at some point in their life, so that gives you a leg up on knowing how they work in your body.”

What Your Doctor May Ask You:

What’s your experience with OTC pain medications?

They’ll want to know if you’ve ever had side effects when taking them so they can suggest alternatives or fixes.

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What’s your pain tolerance like?

Doctors use a pain scale to try to understand how you’re feeling, but that’s pretty subjective. I imagine people have very different ideas of what a 10 is based on their life experiences. Help your doctor understand better how you typically experience pain so they have a good baseline.

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What daily medications or supplements are you taking?

They want to make sure that anything you take for pain won’t interact with something you’re already on.

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Make Sure You're Being Heard

Doctors are experts, but you’re also a valuable and vital part of your health care decision-making.

Here are some situations where you might need to advocate for yourself, along with what you can say.

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Follow Up at Home

Now that you’ve reviewed the pain relief protocol with your doctor, cement the information so you feel confident in the plan later.

Compile any notes you took during your visit along with any printed material you got from your doctor and put it in a place you can easily access it when you’re home after surgery.

Go to the pharmacy and buy any medications you don’t already have. You can chat with the pharmacist when you’re there as a way to review and confirm how you plan to use each medication.

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Meet Your Guide

Shawn Gubala

Advocate

Shawn Gubala, an outdoor enthusiast and recreational runner, faced a life-changing setback after a complex ankle injury led to a complete fibular fracture, reconstructive surgery, and the challenge of managing severe, escalating pain. Shawn learned firsthand how to advocate for himself with his care team and adjust to new limits. He shares his journey to help others talk openly about pain, medication concerns, and the challenges of recovery.

Prepare for Your Appointment

Choose a Step:

Get Ready for Your Appointment

Make the Most of Your Appointment

What to Ask Your Doctor:

What Your Doctor May Ask You:

Make Sure You're Being Heard

Follow Up at Home

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