Multimodal Anesthesia and Pain Control

Overview

Multimodal pain control eases your pain with a combination of medicines. It can be used before, during and after a surgical procedure. The goal is to reduce the use of narcotics and their unpleasant side effects.

Narcotics

Narcotics, also called opioids, are very good at relieving pain in the short term. But they can cause impaired judgment, drowsiness, nausea and constipation. With long-term use they hurt the body’s ability to control pain naturally. They can be addictive.

The Multimodal Approach

With the multimodal approach, you are given focused anesthetics and a combination of pain medicines. The types and doses of these medicines are tailored to your specific needs.

Before and During Your Procedure

Your multimodal plan may begin before your procedure. Some medications prepare your body for surgery. During the procedure, the doctor may use nerve blocks and other anesthetic techniques. These prevent pain without the need for general anesthesia

Reducing the Need for Narcotics

After the procedure, you’ll take small doses of several medicines at scheduled times around the clock. You’ll feel better and more alert. The multimodal approach speeds your discharge from the hospital. It eases your transition to physical therapy, and it can shorten the overall length of your recovery.