Postoperative pain: Analgesics make a difference in many ways

: Because pain has so many potent physiologic and psychological effects, successful management of postoperative pain can significantly influence the speed and degree of recovery. Drug therapy combined with nonpharmacologic pain-relief methods and an understanding of each patient's needs are required. Drs Ziser and Murray discuss the types of post-surgical pain experienced by patients and the pharmacologic treatment of this pain.