Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Central Pa. >
  • ... >
  • Surgery >
  • For Our Surgery Patients >
  • Preparing For Surgery >
  • Safe Comfort Goals
Surgery
Anesthesia Services
Why Choose UPMC?
Contact Us
Surgery Optimization Clinic
UPMC Comprehensive Hernia Center
UPMC Comprehensive Reflux Program
For Our Surgery Patients
Surgery Forms for Practices
Preparing For Surgery
Discharge Post-Surgery
Surgery Cancellation
How To Voice A Concern
Your Surgery
Surgical Site Infection Prevention
Paying For Your Care
Pre-Admission Testing
Pre-Surgery Instructions
Safe Comfort Goals
Surgery Waiting Room Guide
Surgical Procedures
Surgical Technologies
Surgery
Anesthesia Services
Why Choose UPMC?
Contact Us
Surgery Optimization Clinic
UPMC Comprehensive Hernia Center
UPMC Comprehensive Reflux Program
For Our Surgery Patients
Surgery Forms for Practices
Preparing For Surgery
Discharge Post-Surgery
Surgery Cancellation
How To Voice A Concern
Your Surgery
Surgical Site Infection Prevention
Paying For Your Care
Pre-Admission Testing
Pre-Surgery Instructions
Safe Comfort Goals
Surgery Waiting Room Guide
Surgical Procedures
Surgical Technologies

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Safe Comfort Goals After Surgery at UPMC in Central Pa.

It is common to experience pain after surgery. Depending on your procedure, your pain can range from minimal to severe. Responses to pain and discomfort vary from person to person. At UPMC in Central Pa., we will partner with you to set safe comfort goals to responsibly minimize your pain and discomfort.

To do so, we will gather some information from you in the pre-op area. Some questions you may be asked include:

  • Do you have pain now?
    • Related to your scheduled procedure?
    • Unrelated to your scheduled procedure?
  • Using 0 to 10 pain scale:
    • Where do you place your pain?
    • What level do you consider tolerable/goal? 
    • What do you do for this pain currently? (Medications, Ice/heat, Positioning/elevation, etc.)

Opioids for Acute Pain What You Need to Know 

  • Acute pain usually occurs suddenly and has a known cause, like an injury, surgery, or infection. Acute pain normally resolves as your body heals. Chronic pain, on the other hand, can last weeks or months — past the normal time of healing.
  • Prescription opioids (like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine) are one of the many options for treating severe acute pain. While these medications can reduce pain during short-term use, they come with serious risks, including addiction and death from overdose when taken for longer periods of time or at high doses.
  • Acute pain can be managed without opioids Ask your doctor about ways to relieve your pain that do not involve prescription opioids. These treatments may actually work better and have fewer risks and side effects. Ask your doctor about your options and what level of pain relief and improvement you can expect for your acute pain. 
  • Nonopioid options include:
    • Pain relievers like ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen 
    • Acupuncture or massage
    • Application of heat or ice

If You Are Prescribed Opioids

Know your risks

It is critical to understand the potential side effects and risks of opioid pain medications. Even when taken as directed, opioids can have several side effects including:

  • Tolerance, meaning you might need to take more of a medication for the same pain relief 
  • Physical dependence, meaning you have withdrawal symptoms when a medication is stopped; this can happen within a few days 
    • Constipation
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Confusion
    • Dry mouth
    • Depression
    • Sleepiness and dizziness
    • Itching

Know what to expect from your doctor

If your doctor is prescribing opioids for acute pain, you can expect him or her to protect your safety in some of the following ways. Your provider may: 

  • Prescribe the lowest effective dose of immediate-release opioids 
  • Prescribe treatment for three days or less, which is usually enough for most acute conditions
  • Ask you to follow up if your pain is not resolving as quickly as expected
  • Check your state’s prescription drug monitoring program
  • Conduct urine drug testing during the course of your therapy
  • Provide instructions on how to taper opioids to minimize withdrawal symptoms

Know your responsibilities

It is critical to know exactly how much and how often to take the opioid pain medications you are prescribed, as well as how to safely store and dispose of them.

  • Never take opioids in higher amounts or more often than prescribed
  • Do not combine opioids with alcohol or other drugs that cause drowsiness, such as:
    • Benzodiazepines, also known as “benzos,” including diazepam and alprazolam
    • Muscle relaxants
    • Sleep aids
  • Never sell or share prescription opioids
  • Store opioids in a secure place and out of reach of others (including children, family, friends, and visitors) 
  • If you have unused opioids at the end of your treatment:
    • Find your community drug take-back program
    • Find your pharmacy mail-back program

Only if a take-back program is not available, flush them down the toilet following guidance from the Food and Drug Administration.

Contact Us

For more information about surgical services at UPMC call the PhoneLine at 717-231-8900.

Connect with the UPMC Central PA Portal app 24/7

Login or Sign Up for UPMC Central PA Portal

The UPMC Central PA Portal provides patients with convenient and secure access to their health information right at their fingertips. View test results. Get virtual care. Message your care team. Schedule and manage appointments. And much more.

Log-In or Sign Up Today

Contact UPMC

Contact UPMC

When it comes to health care for you and your family, UPMC is here. It's easy to find the right doctor, health screenings, programs, classes, and more.

Contact UPMC in central Pa.
UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC in Central Pa.
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login