How painful is a tonsillectomy?
Tonsillectomy is the removal of two oval-shaped tissue pads, named tonsils, from the back of the throat. Tonsillectomy is a popular treatment for airway obstruction and recurrent tonsillar infection in children. However, the painful recovery of this procedure is unpleasant.
Tonsillectomy causes mild or moderate pain in most people. However, a few people may experience severe pain for the first two days after the surgery. On the third day, the pain may start subsiding. However, some may still experience severe pain on the third or seventh day after the surgery. Even adults may have a considerable amount of pain after the surgery. Adults usually require approximately 14 days of convalescence after a tonsillectomy before they can return to their regular diet and work. Children mostly have no pain or mild pain 14 days after a tonsillectomy.
A study reported that the techniques used for tonsillectomies, such as cold dissection, monopolar-bipolar dissection and coblation dissection, do not offer any relief from the pain.
However, with the intracapsular tonsillectomy (partial tonsillectomy/tonsillotomy) technique, children may experience minimum pain. In this method, the surgeon deftly shaves away the tonsil, leaving a small portion behind. By contrast, in a traditional total tonsillectomy, the surgeon removes the entire organ that increases bleeding risk and exposes the muscle behind the tonsil, increasing pain. Children with a partial tonsillectomy may not require opioid pain medication, return sooner to the school, and have a regular diet. However, it has complications such as tonsillar regrowth and potential recurrence.
The surgeon will provide some pain medication before, during and after a tonsillectomy for pain control. Before a tonsillectomy, the surgeon may give a combination of local anesthetic injections that include opioids and clonidine. They will provide some medications such as dexamethasone during the surgery to control pain, although its role in pain reduction is still unclear.
After the tonsillectomy, for the first and second week, you may experience more pain. Therefore, during this period, you may naturally take different combinations of analgesics medications. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medications that are safer for you such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or both. Moreover, they may give codeine, dexketoprofen, or metamizole that may be helpful for this pain. However, these medications may cause severe side effects such as bleeding and respiratory depression. Codeine in children younger than 12 years should be avoided because it can be harmful.
There is huge scientific ongoing research to find a technique or medication that will work best for each surgeon to conduct a painless tonsillectomy. However, there is no good solution yet for this problem. Nevertheless, distraction appears to be a successful strategy to reduce pain perception during and after a tonsillectomy.
What is a tonsillectomy?
Tonsillectomy is the removal of two oval-shaped pads of tissue (tonsil) situated one on each side at the back of your throat.
Usually, this procedure is performed with or without the removal of the adenoids (mass of the lymphatic tissue located behind the nasal cavity) called an adenoidectomy.
When will the surgeon suggest a tonsillectomy?
Usually, children who are 6 to 15 years of age are considered for this surgery. It is less likely to be performed in adults. An otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat specialist) may suggest a tonsillectomy if you have
- Enlarged tonsils with a throat infection that may cause
- Airway obstruction
- Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
- Difficulty in opening the mouth
- Obstructive sleep apnea (breathing difficulties during sleep)
- Three or more tonsil infections per year despite adequate medical therapy
- Tonsillitis (chronic infection and inflammation of the tonsils) causing persistent foul taste or breath despite adequate medications
- Peritonsillar abscess (accumulation of pus due to an infection behind the tonsil)
- An enlarged tonsil that is presumed to be cancerous
- A history of rheumatic heart disease due to a strep throat
- A recurrent middle ear infection due to colds and tonsillitis
What are the methods used for a tonsillectomy?
Considering your comfort level, the surgical time, symptom recurrence and complications, the surgeon will choose one of the below methods for a tonsillectomy:
- Cold dissection
- Coblation
- Electrocautery
- Carbon dioxide laser
- Monopolar-bipolar dissection
- Intracapsular tonsillectomy
QUESTION
Just about any painful sore throat is caused by strep. See AnswerIndian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery
Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
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Tonsillitis usually runs its course. Home remedies may help ease your/your child’s symptoms including getting plenty of rest, gargling, drinking water, washing your hands and taking over-the-counter pain relieving medication.
How do you drain a Peritonsillar abscess?
Drainage of a peritonsillar abscess is a minor surgical procedure for treating a peritonsillar abscess (also known as quinsy). It is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, but you may be asked to get hospitalized if you have any other medical illness.
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Is It Bad to Have the Tonsils Removed?
Tonsils are the two protruding tissue masses at the back of your throat. Tonsillectomy means the removal of the tonsils from the back of your throat. The concerns about removing the tonsils include concerns about immunity and the possibility of antibiotic advancement.
Is Tonsillitis Contagious?
Tonsillitis is a common infection, especially in kids. Tonsillitis is caused by viruses and bacteria like the flu and herpes simplex virus, and Streptococcus bacteria. These viruses and bacterium are spread person to person. Symptoms of tonsillitis are a yellow or white coating on the tonsils, throat pain, pain when swallowing, and hoarseness.
Strep Throat
Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat. Signs and symptoms of strep throat include headache, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, and fever. Strep throat symptoms in infants and children are different than in adults. Strep throat is contagious and is generally passed from person to person. Treatment for strep throat symptoms includes home remedies and OTC medication; however, the only cure for strep throat is antibiotics.
Tonsil Stones
Tonsil stones are small clusters of calcifications that form when food, dead cells, mucus, and bacteria get stuck in the nooks and crannies of the tonsils. Tonsil stones are hard, appear as white or yellowish formations on the tonsils, and usually smell bad due to bacteria. If symptoms occur, they may include persistent bad breath, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, ear pain, and cough.
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Tonsil stones (also called tonsilloliths) form when bacteria and mucus get trapped and calcify in your tonsils' nooks and crannies, leaving a hard piece of matter and a bad taste in your throat. See a picture of Tonsil Stones and learn more about the health topic.
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What Causes an Abscess in Your Throat (Peritonsillar Abscess)?
An abscess in your throat is a collection (or pocket) of pus in the space (peritonsillar space) that lies between each tonsil and wall of the throat. Medically, it is known as peritonsillar abscess or quinsy.
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Will Tonsillitis Go Away on Its Own?
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