Why a successful surgery doesn’t always mean a successful recovery
There is often a significant gap between a surgical procedure that is deemed successful and a patient’s longer-term experience of recovery. While a surgical wound may heal as expected, some patients continue to experience persistent pain that can significantly affect their quality of life, known as chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP). This ongoing burden may, in some patients, be caused by post-surgical neuropathic pain (PSNP), a type of CPSP that is an important but frequently under-recognised consequence of surgery, rather than an inevitable part of the healing process.
A greater awareness and understanding of PSNP, through continued research and innovation, is needed to improve earlier recognition, appropriate assessment and clinical management. At Grünenthal, we are a committed partner in pain management, investing in advancing the understanding of pain to support better patient outcomes.
Recognising the gap: When pain goes beyond recovery
CPSP differs from expected short-term pain following a surgical procedure.1 It is defined as pain that develops or increases in intensity following surgery and persists beyond the normal healing process, typically lasting at least three months.1,2,3,4 In patients with PSNP specifically, this pain has neuropathic characteristics, indicating a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system.5
While most people recover well after surgery, some may continue to experience pain long after the wound has healed. One reason is that surgery can sometimes affect nerves, making the nervous system more sensitive to pain signals. In these cases, the body can continue to send pain messages even though healing has taken place.
Rethinking the gap: How research and innovation can change the future of PSNP
The frequency of CPSP, and PSNP, varies substantially according to the surgical procedure. Published studies suggest that among patients who develop CPSP, neuropathic characteristics may be present in around 66-68% following thoracic or breast surgery and around 31% following groin hernia repair.1
Like other forms of chronic pain, CPSP can affect physical functioning, sleep, emotional wellbeing and participation in daily activities.6,7 It also takes a severe toll on the ability to work. In a 2018 European survey of more than 4,400 respondents living with chronic pain, 50% reported that their pain prevented them from working.8
Quality of life
of patients experience severe CPSP following common surgical procedures.⁵
This huge burden for patients highlights the importance of continued investment in pain research, to bridge the gap between scientific understanding and clinical practice. Advances in neuroscience and a deeper understanding of underlying pain pathways are vital to developing targeted therapies.
Watch below to discover what the future holds for PSNP research and what it means for patients.
Closing the gap between surgery and full recovery
Like all types of CPSP, PSNP remains a highly burdensome, unmet clinical need, and one where greater understanding and targeted innovation could make a meaningful difference. By emphasising the role of research and cross-disciplinary collaboration, we can dramatically improve the future of PSNP care.
Grünenthal is striving to be a leading partner in advancing pain research and contributing to better outcomes for people living with pain. Ultimately, a successful surgery should be measured by the patient’s overall journey to recovery and wellbeing. True success requires addressing the neurological and emotional impact of the procedure. A comprehensive approach to recovery should therefore consider persistent pain and its impact on patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing. It should support patients in achieving the best possible recovery and quality of life, bringing us closer to our vision of a world free of pain.
1 Schug SA et al. Pain 2019;160:45–52
2 Haroutiunian S et al. Pain 2013;154:95‒102
3 Richebé P et al. Anesthesiology 2018;129:590–607
4 Fletcher D et al. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2015;32:725‒34.
5 Kehlet H et al. Lancet 2006;367:1618–25
6 Nijs J, et al. PMR. 2020;12(4):410–419.
7 Breivik H, et al. Eur J Pain. 2006;10(4):287–333.
8 Pain Alliance Europe. Survey on Chronic Pain and your Work Life. A survey in 14 EU countries. 2018. Available at: PAE-Survey-2018-Pain-And-Your-Work-Life.pdf (pae-eu.eu). Accessed August 2026