---
title: "What Is Post-operative pain? TENS and Pain Glossary"
description: "Post-operative pain is pain that follows surgery. Medicare's TENS policy covers TENS for it only as a rental, for 30 days from the day of surgery."
url: https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/post-operative-pain
publisher: Analgesic Healthcare
phone: +1-800-749-1188
contact: https://analgesic.multisites.ai/contact
---

Condition

# Post-operative pain

Post-operative pain is pain that follows surgery. Medicare's TENS policy covers TENS for it only as a rental, for 30 days from the day of surgery.

A review in the Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology and Research says acute pain is experienced immediately after surgery, up to 7 days, and that pain lasting more than 3 months after the injury is considered chronic. Medicare's TENS policy, as of the revision effective January 1, 2024, covers TENS for acute post-operative pain with coverage limited to 30 days, or one month's rental, from the day of surgery. Payment is made only as a rental. Your surgeon or clinician plans your pain care after surgery. See [acute pain](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/acute-pain) and [chronic pain](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/chronic-pain). Read [Does Medicare cover a TENS unit?](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/guides/does-medicare-cover-tens-unit).

## Related terms

-   [Acute pain](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/acute-pain)
-   [Chronic pain](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/chronic-pain)
-   [Non-opioid pain management](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/non-opioid-pain-management)
-   [Local coverage determination](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/local-coverage-determination)

## Sources

1.  [Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology and Research (2010), PMC: Clinical Aspects of Acute Post-Operative Pain Management and Its Assessment](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3255434/)
2.  [CMS: Local Coverage Determination L33802, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS)](https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=33802)

## Questions about your unit or a bill?

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