“Is a tonsillectomy painful?”
I'm 26 years old and I need to have a tonsillectomy next month. Is tonsillectomy painful?
6 Answers
tonsillectomy is very painful. Expect 10-14 days of severe pain. you surgeon will prescribe pain medication. Celebrex after tonsillectomy has been shown to decrease narcotic use. Gargling sucralfate has been shown to coat the throat and decrease pain. Dosing steroids on day 3 and 6 after the surgery will also decrease narcotic use.
Post op pain varies.
Very painful. Using ice chips will help.
Yes, it is like the worst case of tonsillitis that you may have experienced. However, local anesthesia and topical lidocaine can be used along with a narcotic to provide comfort.
For most pediatric patients, a tonsillectomy is not very painful at all. In fact, some kids have NO pain with a certain tonsillectomy technique. Unfortunately, most adults do experience significant pain after this procedure. However, the pain experience is different for everyone. Typically, patients who have suffered from repeated tonsil infections report less pain than patients who have the surgery for another reason. Your surgeon will give you pain management medications and techniques to make it manageable.
Generally yes. Would need to alter diet. No acidic fluids, no spicy foods. limit salt. No crunchy foods. No alcohol, no smoking. Most of pain resolves in 7-10 days. Can use anesthetic lozenges and oral pain medications.
