Posted by Bob Johnson (216.53.226.166) on February 10, 2001 at 13:58:56:
In Reply to: 24 hour pain meds? posted by David Turner on February 10, 2001 at 04:30:32:
I assume you will be on these meds for a very few days after the surgery and that your total use of them will be limited.
Diazapam is mild tranquilizer which both reduces your anxiety and has the secondary benefit of making you less sensitive to pain. There are no concerns about short term use, assuming you use the amount Rx by the doc.
Morphine is an old stand-by pain medication which, depending on dose, will leave you comfortable, perhaps mellow, even sedated.
Used in combination, it's generally wise not to drive or operate equipment, etc. requiring close attention and good reflexes. If you are concerned about addictive potential--don't. It's only with long term, relatively high doses that this can become an issue (but that is something to be addressed if my assumptions are wrong.)
If your doc is starting you on these meds before the surgery it's either because you are having pain now or to "prime" your body for the surgery. That is, taking pain medication before an operation seems to reduce the quantity of pain med needed after the procedure.