Wound care advice following surgery for implanted pain devices
Date issued: June 2026
Review date:
Leaflet section: Pain Management
PDF: Wound care advice following surgery for implanted pain devices.pdf [pdf] 355KB
Pain Management Services
This information leaflet is designed to give advice on wound-care after surgery involving implanted devices used for pain management.
It will help you clearly understand the care involved and who to contact for more advice.
Advice regarding managing dressings:
- Please do not shower or bath following your surgery as this may introduce infection. The Nurse will give advice on showering at your wound review.
- You can wash but avoid getting the dressings damp as this may introduce infection.
- You will need a review of your wound 5- 10 days following surgery - this should be with the Pain Clinic or may be with your own GP Practice.
- Your Pain Clinic Nurse or Doctor may give you specific advice in regards to removal of sutures or clips.
Advice regarding routine post surgery pain and discomfort:
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Please take over the counter medication for post-op pain and discomfort. The Doctor will issue stronger pain relief if they feel that this is necessary.
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Please avoid taking this for your long term pain.
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Doses of these medications should be reduced and stopped as the wound heals typically 1- 2 weeks.
Advice regarding managing bleeding from your wound:
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Small amounts - do not remove existing dressing - place clean gauze or further dressing over the top and apply pressure
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Continuous non heavy bleeding - apply direct pressure with a clean cloth and seek medical advice in office hours from Pain Clinic or Emergency Department out of hours.
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Heavy bleeding - attend Emergency Department at your local Hospital and please ensure the Pain Clinic team are made aware.
Advice regarding potential infected wound:
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Infection is a potentially serious complication. Please contact the Pain Clinic Team directly if you suspect your wound is developing an infection or if out of hours attend Emergency Department.
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Typically infection of the wound occurs 3- 10 days after surgery but can actually occur up to a year later.
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A wound may become:
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Red, irritated or angry
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Fluid or pus may be present
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Swelling around the wound
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You may start to feel:
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Hot, sweaty unwell, or flu like
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You may develop a temperature higher than 37.8°C
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It is important to seek medical advice promptly.
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In hours if possible contact the pain clinic team or attend Emergency Department at University Hospital Plymouth.
Very urgent symptoms requiring immediate attendance at Emergency Department
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Increasing severe new back and/or leg pain.
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New loss of control of bowels or bladder.
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Severe new numbness or weakness compared to before surgery
Please alert the Doctor that sees you that you have a system in place if you still do.
They may need to gain advice from the Pain Team via Switch Board or Neurosurgical on call team.
Chronic Pain Clinic Implant Team
Dr C. Green and Dr S. Bagchi
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm
Pain Clinic (01752) 437706
Kirby Cudmore Building, Marjon University, Plymouth, PL6 8BH
Out of Hours - after 5:30pm or weekends
GP service or NHS 111
Emergency Department University Hospital Plymouth
If the attending doctor would like further advice direct dial numbers to the Pain team out of hours are available through switchboard.
Other formats
If you need this leaflet in another format such as Braille, large print, high contrast, British Sign Language or translated into another language, contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS):
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01752 439694
