The association of patients' daily summarized self‐rated “real‐time” pain scores with physical recovery after major surgery – A repeated measurement design

AIM: To determine the associations of patients' documented self‐rated pain with self‐rated early postoperative physical recovery. DESIGN: Observational with repeated measures. METHODS: General and orthopaedic inpatients (N = 479) were during the period 2012–2015 screened for pain. Individual daily median pain scores at rest and during activity were based on 4–9 self‐ratings on postoperative days 1 and 2, using the Numeric Rating Scale. Nine items reflecting physical recovery from the “Postoperative Recovery Profile” were used in a questionnaire. RESULTS: Associations between median pain scores on postoperative day 1 and physical recovery (fatigue, sleeping difficulties, bladder function, mobilization, muscle weakness and personal hygiene) the same day were found. Additionally, associations were found between median pain scores on day 1 and physical recovery (fatigue, sleeping difficulties, mobilization and muscle weakness) on day 2.